Liver lobe torsion in pet rabbits: clinical consequences, diagnosis, and treatment

Jennifer Graham; Jessica Basseches

doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2014.01.004

Liver lobe torsion in pet rabbits: clinical consequences, diagnosis, and treatment

Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2014 May;17(2):195-202. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2014.01.004.

Authors

Jennifer Graham¹, Jessica Basseches²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Zoological Companion Animal Medicine, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA; Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: Jennifer.Graham@Tufts.edu.
² Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services, 2010 Cabot Boulevard, Langhorne, PA 19047, USA.

PMID: 24767741
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2014.01.004

Abstract

This article reviews diagnosis and management of liver lobe torsion in rabbits. Practitioners should recommend initial diagnostics including radiographs and blood work on rabbits presenting with nonspecific signs of gastrointestinal (GI) stasis to better determine possible etiology and make the best treatment recommendations. If hepatic enzyme elevation is found in a rabbit with GI stasis, abdominal ultrasound is recommended to rule out liver lobe torsion. Prompt diagnosis and liver lobectomy are recommended for best outcome in rabbits with liver lobe torsion.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal disease; Liver torsion; Rabbit; Stasis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Liver Diseases / diagnosis
Liver Diseases / surgery
Liver Diseases / veterinary*
Pets*
Rabbits*
Torsion Abnormality / diagnosis
Torsion Abnormality / surgery
Torsion Abnormality / veterinary*