6: Colic

Question 1

What are three parameters of colic that you should refer?

Answer 1

Doesn’t respond to pain relief, has large volumes of NG reflux, has deteriorating CV parameters

Question 2

Clinical signs of LI colic?

Answer 2

More common - history of reduction in exercise, insidious onset, reduced faecal output, colon or caecal distention on rectal

Question 3

Clinical signs of SI colic?

Answer 3

Less common - acute onset, NG reflux, SI distention on rectal

Question 4

Clinical signs of strangulation colic?

Answer 4

Acute, refractory for analgesia, high HR, eventual endotoxaemia

Question 5

Clinical signs of non-strangulation colic?

Answer 5

Insidious, responds to analgesia, normal or mildly increased HR

Question 6

Where do you decompress the SI contents to during surgery?

Answer 6

The caecum

Question 7

What are some types of anastomosis?

Answer 7

End-end, end-side or side-side

Question 8

What kind of GI tract is the most common cause of colic and can be managed medically?

Answer 8

Large colon

Question 9

Why is recurrent colic not uncommon?

Answer 9

Adhesions from previous surgery

Question 10

How do you treat colic due to adhesions?

Answer 10

Medically