7. Colic Flashcards
T/F: Colic is a disease also known as abdominal pain
F. not a disease, rather a symptom
what causes the death of bacteria that leads to endotoxemia?
High amount of CHO ingestion
horse inactivity may cause ____ leading to ____
motility problems, colic
how is pregnancy a predisposing factor of colic?
possible: a. uterine torsion, b. excessive stool in uterus
T/F: Stress is a predisposing factor of Colic
T. especially stress due to transportation
A specific disease associated with the use of NSAIDs, specifically phenylbutazone
Right dorsal colitis (RDC)
a disease characterized by ischemic infarctions of the bowel
verminous arteritis
2 approaches to colic:
- management
- surgery
a type of colic caused when a fatty tumor gets wrapped around a portion of the small intestine
Strangulating lipoma
T/F: Strangulating lipoma is usually seen on foals
F. the tumors take years to develop, thus it is more likely to be found on horses 14 y/o and above
this happens when there is failure to evacuate sufficient quantities of meconium
Meconium impaction
the first feces passed by the newborn foal
Meconium
what impaction causes foals to die suddenly
Ascarid impaction
large horses are predisposed to this type of colic
nephrosplenic entrapment (left dorsal displacement)
miniature horses are predisposed to this type of colic
Small colon impaction
Related to feed impactions
Feed and Water
Most horses stop eating during ____ colic
acute
in ___ colic, there is an intermittent eating pattern
chronic
What happens to the body temperature of horses during severe colic?
becomes elevated
____ affects degree of pain
Heart rate
normal HR of Thoroughbreds
20-40 bpm
HR during mild colic
50-60 bpm
HR during moderate colic
70-80 bpm
HR during severe colic
higher than 80 bpm
T/F: intermittent pawing is a behavioral sign of colic
T
2 very common signs of colic
pawing, rolling
T/F: horses with fever or signs of depression rather than overt pain will have a disorder requiring surgical rather than medical therapy
F. …requiring medical rather than surgical therapy
T/F: Pulse rate is indirectly proportional to lesion and prognosis
F. the higher the pulse rate, the worse the lesion and prognosis
T/F: pulse rate is an indicator of severity, and is very helpful in making diagnosis
F. not usually helpful in making a diagnosis
Heart rate is related to: (3 answers)
a. pain
b. vascular volume
c. cardiovascular response to endotoxemia
T/F. RR is always elevated with abdominal pain
T
T/F: Elevated RR may cause respiratory alkalosis
F. respiratory acidosis
Greater than 3 seconds CRT may mean that the ____ is compromised
cardiovascular
T/F: A brick red color of the mucus membrane is normal
F. Pink is normal; Brick red = endotoxemia
T/F: drugs like atropine, xylazine, butorphanol, and detomidine enhance the sound created during auscultation
F. reduces the sound
noise that indicates abnormal bowel motility
Borborygmi
Borborygmi sounds are stronger on what sides of the colon? (2 answers)
a. left dorsal
b. left ventral
the left flank creates sounds similar to
crumpling of paper
the right area of the horse creates a sound similar to
dripping water
An increased sound during auscultation indicates that there is a possible ____
inflammation
A decreased sound during auscultation indicates that there is a possible ____
feed impaction
Performed during auscultation to find pockets of gas
percussion
Percussion can detect ____ on the right side
cecal tympany
Percussion can detect ____ on the left side
large colon distention or displacement
indicated for most if not all cases of colic
Nasogastric Intubation
T/F: Nasogastric Intubation should be immediately done if the pulse is greater than 40
F. greater than 60
nasogastric intubation is usually done if there is ___ obstruction
cranial: stomach or upper small intestines
normal color of stomach/ SI contents
green
normal pH of stomach/ SI contents
3-6
Large acidic volumes collected during Nasogastric intubation may indicate ___ or _____
pyloric or duodenal blockage
yellow-brown color with fetid odor and pH 6-8 contents collected during nasogastric intubation may indicate ____
small intestinal blockage
Considered the most helpful diagnostic procedure and aid in determining the diagnosis and need for surgery
Rectal examination
Gauge of needle usually used in abdominal paracentesis
18 G
site of abdominal paracentesis
ventral midline
T/F: It is very important to perform rectal palpation right after abdominal paracentesis
F. must be done BEFORE (Rectal palpation FIRST!)
normal color and nature of peritoneal fluid
clear, straw colored, serous, and does not coagulate
What is the normal range for peritoneal fluid total protein?
less than 2.5 g/dL
what is the normal value of cells in peritoneal fluid?
less than 5,000 nucleated cells/ml
a peritoneal fluid that is orange to serosanguineous
ischemic bowel with leakage through capillaries
large volumes of dark brown or green fluid, feed, mineral oil, sand collected during abdominal paracentesis may indicate ____
rupture
a cloudy and opaque fluid collected during abdominal paracentesis indicates
large numbers of WBC
A greater than 10 mg/dL fibrinogen protein collected from abdominal paracentesis may indicate
acute inflammation
presence of bacteria on the peritoneal fluid collected during abdominal paracentesis indicates
poor prognosis
the peritoneal fluid can increase in volume and protein content due to lymphatic or venous obstruction
Displaced or strangulated bowel
increase in WBC and protein content without an increase in rbc/Hb.
Iatrogenic, abdominal abscesses or thromboembolism
increased WBCs, protein and fecal material.
Ruptured bowel
red cells and hemoglobin are present in the fluid due to vascular occlusion
Necrotic bowel
No changes in peritoneal fluid
Obstruction of bowel without vascular strangulation or necrosis
increased numbers of RBCs plus increased WBC count of the fluid.
Strangulation
Helps determine dehydration, sepsis, infection, electrolyte imbalances
Hematology and Blood Chemistry
T/F: Hematology and Blood Chemistry alone is enough to have a diagnosis and prognosis
F. not definitive
T/F: Ultrasonography in horses in not routinely done
T
Ultrasonography in horses can be done in two ways:
a. rectum/ transrectal
b. external
This procedure can be used to locate blockages, gas, enteroliths, sand, etc.
radiography
T/F: Radiography is best for use in thoroughbreds and other large horses
F. best for use in foals and other small horses
Procedure that is best for diagnosing gastric ulcers
Endoscopy
this decompression technique stimulates intestinal motility
“trailer-ride” cure
considered the safest, non-hallucinogenic NSAID used for the Tx of colic
Flunixin
An Opioid agonist used for the Tx of Colic that is considered hallucinogenic
Butorphanol
3 opioid agonists:
- Oxymorphone
- Meperidine
- Butorphanol
3 NSAIDs:
- phenylbutazone (Bute)
- Flunixin
- Metamizole (dipyrone)
A common but expensive alpha2 agonist
Xylazine
2 Alpha2 agonists
Xylazine, Detomidine
2 sedatives:
- Chloral hydrate
- Barbiturates
A spasmolytic that can cause colic due to ileus
Atropine
A spasmolytic that can relax the bowel wall
Scopolamine
to maintain body water, electrolytes, acid-base balance, and osmolarity within physiologically tolerable limits
Fluid therapy
Change the consistency of ingest and help evacuate intestine
Lubricants and Cathartics
T/F: Fluid therapy can increase intraluminal water content
T
fluid therapy is best administered via
indwelling catheter
should be considered the first step in fluid replacement
Use of crystalloids or colloids
should be considered the first step in fluid replacement
Use of crystalloids or colloids
Most common consequence due to the increased permeability of injured GI mucosa to bacterial endotoxins
Anti-Endotoxemia
Anti-Endotoxemia can lead to: (2 answers)
- laminitis
- pulmonary damage
alkaline yellow fluid greater than 4 liters
gastric reflux
distended small intestine, distended and displaced large colon, distention which cannot be medically treated, palpable foreign body
rectal exam
