Medical versus surgical management of liver lobe torsion in rabbits

This knowledge summary evaluates evidence pertaining to the management of liver lobe torsion in rabbits. Whilst this condition is considered rare, increasing numbers of case studies have been published in the last 10 years and with this comes the opportunity to learn and discover the optimum way to treat this condition in pet rabbits. Medical versus surgical mortality rates have been evaluated and despite surgery being documented more frequently as a treatment option in other species it was concluded in this summary that medical management carries a similar 7-day survival to surgical treatment, however long-term morbidity and mortality is increased compared with surgery. It was also noted that delayed diagnosis and severe anaemia negatively affect outcomes of both groups.