Colic Flashcards
Yawning alone in horses is a sign of which particular organ malfunctioning?
The liver
The 3 main causes of gastrointestinal pain are:
Distension, ischaemia and inflammation.
What heart rate is considered worrying in horses and at what point does it become severely abnormal?
48-58bpm is worrying. >60 is severely abnormal.
What are the 4 main goals of physical examination of a colic patient?
- Obtain baseline values to monitor response to treatment. 2. Determine degree of cardiovascular compromise. 3. Assess for secondary complications. 4. Aid in diagnosis of cause of abdominal pain.
What options are there for diagnostic tests in the colic patient?
Nasogastric intubation; Abdominal palpation per rectum; Abdominocentesis; Abdominal ultrasound; Abdominal radiography, Gastroscopy; Haematology and biochemistry.
When using nasogastric intubation as a diagnostic tool for colic cases, what technique is used to work out how much fluid comes out of the horse?
The two bucket technique - clean water of known volume goes IN from one bucket and reflux is emptied into a second.
What is the stomach volume of a horse?
1.5% of its body weight
From what location would you perform abdominocentesis?
Most ventral aspect of the linea alba at midline or slightly to the right. (*Spleen on the left)
What does it mean if the peritoneal fluid looks like orange juice?
Peritonitis
Above what number is the amount of protein in abdominal fluid considered abnormal?
20g/L
Can you culture from a purple top (EDTA) tube?
No! Need to use a red top (plain) tube.
What is the normal measurement of lactate (in plasma OR peritoneal fluid)?
Less than 2mmol/L
Fill in the blanks: “No horse with blood lactate >_____ mmol/L or peritoneal fluid lactate >_____ mmol/L survived”
No horse with blood lactate >8.6 mmol/L or peritoneal fluid lactate >16.9 mmol/L survived
In which 2 sites might damaged intestine ‘hide’ and not leak lactate into the peritoneal fluid?
The epiploic foramen or through inguinal ring into scrotal sac
What would you think of in relation to a finding of elevated GGT?
Right dorsal displacement of the large colon
What happens to calcium levels in a colicy horse?
They become hypocalcaemic - their whole system is geared up to absorb calcium so when absorption is disrupted they quickly become hypocalcaemic.
What are the treatment goals for a colic patient?
Relieve Pain. Restore Tissue Perfusion. Restore Metabolic Status. Treat Secondary Complication.
What drug classes available for visceral pain management?
NSAIDS. Opiods. Na channel blockers. a2 agonists. Antispasmotics.
What are the effects of flunixin?
Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic
What is the onset and duration of flunixin?
Onset: 15 min Duration: ~12hrs
How should you administer flunixin?
IV or PO. NEVER ADMINISTER IM - will cause clostridial myonecrosis.
Which NSAID is licensed for use in foals?
Meloxicam
Which NSAID is most effective for musculoskeletal pain?
Phenylbutazone.
What are the disadvantages of using a2 agonists in colic cases?
Profound decrease in GI motility. Cardiovascular and respiratory depression. Increased sweating and urine production. Rarely - xylazine rage!
