Abdomen part 1 Flashcards
what technique do we use when taking abdominal radiographs?
low kVp technique
at expiration
grid if patient >10cm thick
what does visualization of the margins of the abdominal structures require?
contrasting opacity (usually fat) interposed between the soft tissue opacity organs
what is decreased abdominal serosal detail caused by?
soft tissue opacity between organs: fluid
decreased fat between organs
optical illusion because of giant mass
in whom might you see decreased serosal detail?
abdominal effusion
young patient
thin patient
giant mass
what is increased serosal margin detail due to?
free abdominal gas interposed between soft tissue organs
usually GI perforation
how do we find small volumes of free gas in a small animal?
horizontal beam DV or VD with the animal in left lateral recumbency
want gastric fundus out of the way
look just caudal to diaphragm at highest point in abdomen
what does an abdomen with free gas and fluid look like?
some serosal details seen very well and others not at all
what bacteria are known to produce gas?
Clostridium
E. coli
Klebsiella
what are some retroperitoneal abnormalities?
mass effect causes ventral displacement of colon:
lymphadenopathy
retroperitoneal fluid
what is the gastric axis?
when we draw a line between the fundus and pyloris of the stomach
perpendicular to spine and parallel to ribs
what are some liver abnormalities we can see on a radiograph?
hepatomegaly
pedunculated liver mass
microhepatia
emphysematous cholecystitis
liver abscess
the head of the spleen is in the _________________ abdomen attached to the ____________
left dorsal
stomach
when can you see a normal cat spleen in radiographs?
VD view, not lateral
what happens in a splenic torsion?
spleen is rotated around its pedicle
is a DV view for abdomen helpful? why?
no
caudal abdominal structures not visible
