Acute Abdomen - Colic Flashcards
What are the 3 primary risk factors that contribute to a colic ?
- Diet changes
- Changes in exercise pattern
- increased time spent stabled and decreased access to pasture
- history of previous colic
What is the MAJOR DIFFERENTIATING SIGN of a horse with TRUE colic ?
CONTINUOUS INCESSANT MOVING (or walking)
other signs:
- looking at flanks, kicking at the abdomen
- attempts to roll
- pawing
A horse exhibits mild pain. Upon P.E, the horse has a heart rate of 60-70bpm, increased respiratory rate and elevated PCV. All other parameters were normal. The vet then places a NG tube. NO REFLUX was obtained. Is this a strangulating or non-strangulating obstruction?
HR : moderately elevated
Tachypneic.
Elevated PCV can be due to mild dehydration or associated with stress/anxiety.
No Reflux
NON-STRANGULATING OBSTRUCTION
What are the typical changes over time seen in an abdominocentesis for a Non-Strangulating obstruction?
TP and WBC initially normal –> increase in TP –> increase in WBC –> vascular compromise leading to increase in RBCs,
A horse presents with severe unrelenting pain. On auscultation,. its HR is 80-100bpm, CRT is increased, toxic line is present and it has a congested MM. Its extremities are cold and its pulses are weak and thready.
The horse is tachypneic, its abdomen distended and it exhibits metabolic acidosis and endotoxemia. When an NG tube was placed, 5 L of reflux was obtained. Upon transrectal palpation, severe tight loops and bands were palpated. Is this a strangulating or non-strangulating colic ?
HR, CRT, toxic line and congested MM indicative of cardiovascular compromise.
Tachypnea - severe pain
5L of reflux - small intestinal obstruction would produce at least 5L of reflux
Severely tight loops and bands upon rectal palpation CONFIRMS that this is a STRANGULATING LESION.
What are the typical changes seen in the abdominocentesis of a strangulating colic horse?
TP, WBC and RBC are all increased –>. Toxic neutrophils
If there is severe necrosis - TP >3.0 g/dL, RBCs >20,000
When is surgery indicated for colic ?
Presence of Persistent and Uncontrollable Pain - horse is unresponsive to appropriate analgesic tx
An animal presented with severe pain. When the vet arrived, the animal’s pain has subsided but the cardiovascular parameters has worsened and the horse looks more depressed. What has happened ?
Rupture of the gut –> mostly fatal
What is the most reliable parameter in determining prognosis of colic ?
Heart rate
Which parameter predicts the survival rate for a GIT colic?
Degree of pain
Describe the values of the following parameters for a horse that has a guarded to poor prognosis for its GI colic :
- systolic BP
- Pulse
- HR
- PCV
- Lactate
- BUN
- systolic BP - 80
- PCV >60
- Lactate >80 mg/dL
- BUN >42 mg/dL
What are the 4 components that form part of the therapy for a ‘simple colic’.
- NSAID : Flunixin Meglumine
- Walking - promote GI Motility
- Mineral oil - promote GI motility
- Fluids
Name the three analgesics that can be used in a mild and/or spasmodic colic
- Flunixin Meglumine
- Dipyrone - only for spasmodic colic - very effective anti-pyretic
- Buscopan
Which drug should NOT be used in a moderate to severe colic? Why?
a) Xylazine
b) Acepromazine
c) Detomidine
d) Butorphanol (Torb)
Acepromazine - causes SEVERE HYPOTENSION in an already cardiovascularly compromised patient
Which drug is the preferred drug for moderate to severe colic ? Why? What side effects should a vet be wary of ?
a) Xylazine
b) Acepromazine
c) Detomidine
d) Butorphanol (Torb)
Xylazine
Advantage : its effective within 5 mins
Disadvantage: Repeated and large doses can worsen GIT ileus
