Acute Abdomen COPY Flashcards

1
Q

What are the differnetials for an acute abdomen? (5)

A
  • Acute/chronic & local/diffuse peritonitis
  • Right torsion abomasum*
  • Caecal torsion*A
  • Bloat: primary/secondary*
  • Photosensitive dermatitis?
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the diagnostic plan for an acute abdomen (6)

A
  • History taking
  • Clinical exam
  • Exploratory laparotomy
  • Ultrasonography
    • Assess extent, localisation and character, allows guided abdominocentesis
  • Peritoneal tap?
  • Biochemistry/Haematology?
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is seen on clinical examination of an acute abdomen? (6)

A
  • Reduced feed intake, drop in milk
  • Pyrexia (24-36h)
  • Hypovolaemia, toxaemia, shock (acute)
  • Reduced rumen activity/intensity, GI stasis, scant feces, abdominal distension
  • Rectal exam
    • Fibrinous adhesions abdomen
    • Distended SI on rectal examination
  • Signs of abdominal pain
    • Reluctance to move, arched back, grunt, treading hind legs, kicking abdomen, recumbency, pain tests
    • ­HR/RR
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is peritonitis often secondary to?

A

Diffuse:

  • Urethral obstruction (URI2)
  • Acute acidosis/rumenitis (GI2)
  • Toxic mastitis (Repro2)
  • Postpartum metritis (Repro2)
  • Perforated abomasal ulcer (GI2)

Local:

  • LDA/RDA (GI2)
  • Caecal torsion
  • TRP (GI2)
  • Uterine torsion/rupture, dystocia, caesarean, vaginal tear (Repro2)
  • Intestinal obstruction, volvulus, strangulation, intussusception, perforation (iatrogenic)
  • Splenic/Hepatic/Umbilical abscess (GI2)
  • Post surgical complications
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Which cow type does a caecal torsion affect?

A

Earlt lactation dairy cows - Hypocalcaemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How common is dilation in caecal torsion?

How common is a torsion?

A

Dilation - common

Torsion - rare

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the differentials?

A

RTA/RDA (more cranial position)

Caecal dilation/torsion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How can you treat a caecal torsion?

A

Surgical

Right flank laparotomy, externalise and empty caecum using purse string suture, reposition, administer oral fluids, Calcium borogluconate, NSAIDs (2 days, i.e. ketoprofen), antibiotics (3 days, Procaine benzylpenicillin)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How can you treat a gastric dilation?

A

Surgical or conservative: calcium borogluconate, NSAIDs, spasmolytics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a strangulation and how common is it?

A
  • Prolapse of SI through mesenteric tear
  • Persistent urachus

= RARE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a volvulus?

and how common is it?

A

Torsion of the root of the mesentery

= RARE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How common is an intussusception?

A

RARE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How common is an intestinal obstruction?

A

RARE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How can you surgically treat Intestinal obstruction, volvulus, strangulation, intussusception, perforation (iatrogenic)?

A
  • Right flank approach
  • Principles as for other species
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the terminology issue of bloat?

A

•“bloat” can mean ruminal dilatation
or just abdominal distension

•the rumen is most commonly responsible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the 2 aetiologies of ruminal bloat?

A

–Frothy (primary bloat); often herd problem

–Free gas (secondary bloat); failure to eructate; often individual animals

17
Q

What is frothy bloat?

A
  • High protein grass = ↑viscosity of ruminal fluid
    • Early grazing season, especially legumes such as alfalfa, high clover pasture
  • Forms “froth” – prevents eructation
  • Can pass stomach tube but doesn’t decompress
18
Q

How can you treat frothy bloat?

A

–Anti-foaming agents (e.g. Mineral oil, poloxalene – “BloatGuard”)

–If severe; decompress by rumenotomy initially (prognosis?)

–Diet management: take off pasture, late morning grazing, strip graze, feed hay before going onto grass

19
Q

Name causes of obstructive bloat(7)

A
  • Obstruction: foreign body (may be palpable)
  • Hypocalcaemia
  • Prolonged lateral recumbency
  • Vagal nerve damage
  • Tetanus (rigidity, protrusion 3rd eyelid, hyperesthesia)
  • Actinobacillus
  • Outside pressure (carcinoma, papilloma, EBL, bTB)
20
Q

What does vagal nerve damage cause?
What is it secondary to?

A
  • ‘vagus indigestion’: enlarged rumen>bloat
  • Secondary to hardware disease, actinobacillosis (rumen/reticulum)
21
Q

What is a common cause of obstruction in cattle?

A
  • Large quantities of feed, rapid intakes
  • Root crops

–Potatoes, turnips, apples, fodder beet etc

22
Q

What are the signs obstruction “choke”?

A
  • Distress, extended neck, coughing
  • Obstruction at certain sites

–Oropharynx, thoracic inlet, heart base

–May palpate if cervical/Passage of a stomach tube

23
Q

How do you diagnose choke?

A

History and clinical appearance

24
Q

How can you treat obstruction (Choke)

A
  • Relieve rumen tympany if severe
    • Knife/Trocar and cannula in left paralumbar fossa
  • Administer spasmolytic IV/IM (some analgesic properties)
    • Butylscopolamine bromide and metamizole
    • Buscopan Compositum http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk
    • (!indication, withdrawal, lactation, pregnancy!)
  • Attempt removal using fingers or gentle pressure with stomach tube (using paraffin/cooking oil or lubricant)
  • Leave to macerate if rumen trocar/red devil is present
25
Q

What are the possible causes of abomasal bloat (3)

A
  • dietary changes (feeding routine)
  • poor milk clot formation
  • Clostridia?
26
Q

What are the clinical signs of abomasal bloat (4)

A
  • acute abdominal distension and pain
  • rapid dehydration
  • usually young calves (pre-weaning)
  • not relieved with stomach tube
27
Q

How do you manage abomasal bloat? (2)

A
  • Deflate using needle (various techniques)
  • Manage metabolic consequences (e.g. dehydration)
28
Q

When does calves get ruminal bloat?

A

–Usually slightly older calves

•Poor oesophageal groove closure

–Often just after weaning

–Causes not well understood

•Related to poor rumen development

29
Q

What are the clinical signs of ruminal bloat in calves? (3)

A

–Much more chronic

–Often recurrent

–May follow concentrate feeding

30
Q

How can we manage ruminal bloat in calves?

A

–Can create fistula or use long-term trocar (“Red Devil”) if necessary

31
Q
A