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BVetMed3 Alimentary > Colic: diagnostics > Flashcards

Colic: diagnostics Flashcards

1
Q

What should you check first when a patient presents with colic?

A

LISTEN TO HEART

Check mucous membranes and CRT

—— Assess for CVRS shock / sepsis

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2
Q

What is the normal heart rate range for a horse?

A

30-40 bpm

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3
Q

Why might the heart rate of a horse be slightly raised in a horse with colic?

A

Pain

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4
Q

Why might a horse with colic be tachycardic?

A

CVRS shock

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5
Q

If a horse is colicing with a heart rate greater than 60 bpm what should you do?

A

PASS A TUBE IMMEDIATELY

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6
Q

Why might a horse’s mucous membranes be dark pink/red, what is the first thing you should do?

A

ENDOTOXIC SHOCK - congested mm due to tachycardia and post capillary venous constriction

immediate administration of IV fluids

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7
Q

What behavioural signs may indicate that a horse is in pain. Rank them from least to most severe.

A 
Recumbancy
Pawing
Trying to go down
Rolling 
Abrasions (often over zygomatic arch)
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8
Q

Why might a horse with colic appear depressed upon examination?

A

Has had a severe episode overnight (look for abrasions around zygomatic arch)

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9
Q

Should you give sedation to a patient with colic?

A

Yes BUT after you have assessed heart rate, mucous membranes and pain status.

(Unless the horse is so agitated that it is unsafe to proceed with initial examination)

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10
Q

What acronym can you use to guide consult with owners of colicing horses?

A

SHED-C

Signalment
History (medical)
Environment
Diet

Complaint

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11
Q

What important questions should you ask clients of colicing horses?

A 
Age
Time of colic onset
Degree of colic shown 
Any treatments given 
Previous colic
Last passed faeces
Management
Worming regime
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12
Q

How many times should a normal horse pass faeces in a day?

A

4-6 times per day in hospital

Up to 10 at home

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13
Q

What is a common reason for colic in young horses?

A

Obstructions

Particularly due to parasites i.e. ascarids

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14
Q

What is a common cause of colic in older horses?

A

Pedunculated (strangling) lipomas

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15
Q

Name some environmental and dietary risk factors for colic.

A

Environment:
Recent change in management
Recently transported

Diet:
Recent/sudden change in diet

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16
Q

What is the normal TPR for a horse?

A

37.5 - 38.5

20-40

8-16

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17
Q

When doing a full exam of a colicing horse, what are some key areas to focus on?

A 
Demeanour - signs of pain/abrasions
TPR
CV status 
GI borborygmi
Abdominal distension
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18
Q

What could cause a high temperature in a colicing horse?

A

Colitis
Peritonitis
Enteritis
Rupture - enterotoxaemia

19
Q

How can you use heart rate to assess the severity of the colic?

A

20-40 normal
40-60 mild
60-80 severe, likely surgical + need to refer
80+ poor prognosis

20
Q

How could you assess distension of the abdomen?

A

Ping - auscultation and percussion

21
Q

What might abdominal distension indicate about the cause of the colic?

A

Large colon problem

22
Q

What would a lack of GI sounds indicate?

A

Decreased peristalsis, possible ileus

23
Q

What do you need to perform a rectal examination of a horse?

A 
Gloves
Lube
Spasmolytic (e.g. Buscopan)
Sedation
RESTRAINT
24
Q

What can you feel when rectally palpating a horse?

A 
Aorta
Left kidney 
Nephrosplenic space
Caudal edge of spleen 
Pelvic flexure 
Caecum

Bladder
Reproductive organs

25
Q

What could be mistaken for masses during rectal palpation?

A

Faecal balls

26
Q

What would small intestinal distension feel like upon palpation?

A

Bicycle tyres

27
Q

What might a distended large intestine feel like upon palpation?

A

Balloons of gas

28
Q

Can you palpate a normal small intestine?

A

No

29
Q

Why is it important to pass a nasogastric tube in horses with colic?

A

HORSES CAN’T VOMIT

If there is an obstruction, fluid will accumulate until the stomach ruptures.

30
Q

How do you pass a nasogastric tube in a horse?

A

Lubricate tube
Measure distance to stomach (usually around 2m) and mark

Pass tube down ventral meatus

Use syringe to get negative pressure then drop the end of the tube below the level of the stomach (into a bucket!) to ‘siphon’ stomach contents.

31
Q

What could nasogastric siphoning tell you about the cause of a colic?

A

If more than 2 litres of fluid, likely to be a small intestine problem/obstruction

32
Q

How can ultrasound be useful in finding the cause of a colic?

A 
Evaluate peritoneal fluid
Size of viscus (small intestine)
Position of viscus (large intestine)
Liver
Kidneys 
Spleen
33
Q

How could you diagnose nephrosplenic entrapment using ultrasound?

A

CAN’T SEE THE KIDNEY

34
Q

How could you assess peritoneal fluid in a colicing horse?

A

Abdominocentisis

Put needle at the most ventral part of the abdomen

35
Q

What can peritoneal fluid tell you about a colic?

A

Leakage of albumin (small protein) - cloudy

Presence of neutrophils

Presence of RBCs - serosanguinous - LOTS OF GUT DEATH

Gut contents - ingesta - rupture

36
Q

How could you tell if you had performed an accidental enterocentesis?

A

Brown/green colour, few cells, free bacteria

Horse has otherwise normal TPR

37
Q

What are the five physio;pig all categories of colic?

A

Distension (spasmodic) colic

Non-strangulating lesions

Strangulating lesions

Inflammatory lesions

Non-GIT colics

38
Q

Which type of colic always requires surgical intervention?

A

Strangulating lesions

39
Q

What inflammatory lesions may cause colic?

A

Colitis

40
Q

What are the two types of non-strangulating lesions?

A

Obstructions

Displacements or entrapments

41
Q

How would you treat an obstruction?

A

Enteral fluids to soften impaction,

Withhold food

Give analgesics

42
Q

What does BAR stand for?

A

Bright Alert Responsive

43
Q

What does NDR stand for?

A

‘Not doing right’

Behaviour seems off but no obvious injuries or clinical signs

BVetMed3 Alimentary (16 decks)

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