Colic Flashcards by Corinne Perra

What are the sources of abdominal pain?

Originating from GI proper

stretch of GIT wall
pull on mesentary
inflammation in intesintal wall
pain from ischemia

Originating from peritoneum

stimulation of inflammatory mediators
stimulation of reflexes leading to decreased mobility and distention

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What are consequences of a lack of aboral flow in the gIT?

Distention with gas or fluid

rapidity and severity depends on degree of obstruction
distended bowel likely to be palpable transrectally

Backflow of content

large vol can accumulate in large colon
small intestinal obstructions result in reflux in hose

Compromise of vsculature or bowel wall
-inflmmatory abdominal fluid -
CV collapse

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What do you expect heart rate to be in a case with simple obstruction ?

Normal to slightly elevated (40-70)

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What do you expect heart rate to be in strangulating lesions?

Very elevated

Early 50-90
Late 70-120

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Pulse rates over _______ are seen in diseases that produced severe cardiovascular compromise and are therefore more likely fatal

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Fever with a colic indicates what etiology

Infectious

Eg salmonellosis or PHF

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What breeds of horses are known for being stoic?

Draught horses
Ponies
Donkeys

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Grade this colic

Pawing occasionally
Walking and looking at flanks

Mild

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Grade this colic

Up and down constantly 
Walking 
Quivering 
Rolling 
Trashing

External injuries

Severe

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Grade this colic

Paying, kicking abdomen with hind limbs

Crouching and getting up and down

Moderate

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How can you tell the difference between colic pain and laminitis pain?

Colic horses are continuously moving

Laminitis horse are planted

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In what quadrant would you find the small intestine and small colon?j

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In what quadrant would you find the large colon?

LV and RV

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In what quadrant would you find the cecum?

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How many contractions per minute should you hear in the RD quadrant

1-3

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T/:F you can evaluate motility of the GIT from a single auscultation

False

Need multiple auscultations to evaluate change

Both increased and decreased motility are significant

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T/F: most strangulating lesions manifest in increased GI sounds initially?

True

What are the two types of motility?

Propulsive and segmental

Abdominal enlargement proximal (under ribs). Are associated with what pathology?

Small intestine

Cranial displacement of the LC

If the flank area is blown up like a tick, what pathology is this associated with?

Large colon involvement

Can be associated with generalized peritonitis and GIT rupture

What are the only two situations in which you would do a percutaneous decompression?

Surgery is refused by client and want to try incase decompression helps resolve (salvage procedure)

Severe compromise that can lead to life threatening situations — prolong survival to surgery

What is likely the cause of an enlargement in the right flank?

Gas accumulation in the cecum

An enlargement in the left flank is likely due to ??

Large colon

What are complications associated with percutaneous decompression

Peritonitis

Rupture (very rarely)

What should be the FIRST procedure attempted when evaluating a moderate to severe colic horse Especially if HR > 70-80bpm

Nasogastric intubation

T/F: you would expect more volume of reflux with a strangulating lesion compared to a non strangulating lesion

True

A reflux volume > ______ is considered significant

If you have a small volume of reflux.. | what should you consider as the cause?

Very early in disease Very proximal SI disease Generalized ileus causing SI reflux Enlargement of LC, enough to start causing outflow obstruction from stomach

An alkaline pH with a large amount of reflux localized lesion to ??

Small intestine

T/F: small intestine in normally palpated in the left dorsal quadrant in a healthy horse

False Should not normally be able to palpate small intestine unless abnormal (distended)

What are the normal values for an abdominocentesis for TP, WBC, and RBC?

Tp < 2.5 WBC < 5000-10000 cells/uL RBC none

What is the progression of fluid changes due to strangulation lesions?

1 hour: increase protein 3-4hrs: increased RBC 6 hrs: WBC incensed

High white blood cells and hyperfibrinogenemia are expected with what kind of colic diseses?

Longer duration infectious processes Eg chronic septic peritonitis form intra abdominal abscessation or occasionally masses/tumors

T/F: In inflammatory colics, there is often a low normal total WBC count from CBC

True Resection of increased degree of endotoxemia

What is the most clearly identified risk factor for colic?

Diet - changes in feeding practices - change in type of concentrate - change in type of batch hay - feeding large amounts of concentrates - feeding round bales or atypical hay Exercise pattern - increased risk with increased housing - increased time spent stabled - decreased access to pasture History of previous colic

What are the pathophysiologic causes of GI colic?

True obstructions — simple obstruction ( non strangulating) —strangulating Non strangulating infarction (thromboembolic ) — parasitic migration (s. Vulgaris) Ulceration Inflammatory pain — enteritis, colitis — peritonitis — mucosal, mural, peritoneal

Strangulating OR non-strangulating? Acute Mild to moderate pain HR 60-70bpm CRT >2sec, pulses normal Increased resp rate

Non- strangulating

Changes seen on abdominocentesis associated with non strangulating colic?

Typically normal TP and WBC As disease progresses TP will increase first followed by WBC RBC seen once disease has progressed enough to cause gut wall compromise

Strangulating or non-strangulating? Sever pain HR 80-100pm CRT 3sec, toxic line, congested mm RR increased

Strangulating

What changes do you expect to see in an abdominocentesis in a colic with a strangulating lesion?

Slight serosanguinous with mild increase in protein and WBC TP, WBC, and RBC will all be incresed Toxic neutrophil follow TP> 3 and RBC > 20,000 —> severe irreversible necrosis Tp> 5.4 —> survival in SI disease is markedly decreased

What analgesics will you use for a spasmodic and/or mild colic?

Flunixin meguline Dipyrone : spasmolytic —> only for spasmolytic colics Buscopan (related to dipyrone)

What analgesics will you use in a moderate to severe colic?

Xylazine - effective within 5mintues Detomidine — more potent is Xylazine not cutting it.. or lasts longer for transport Butorphanol Good for GI pain, and no decrease in motility (Usually give with xylazine)