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Colic in Horses Flashcards

1
Q

What is colic?

A

Abdominal pain, usually from gastrointestinal viscus or occasionally liver/urogential system

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2
Q

List 4 causes of colic in gastrointestinal viscera

A

Spasmodic/gas
Impact
Displacement
Strangulation

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3
Q

List the 10 clinical signs of colic…

A 
Pawing
Trying to go down
Recumbency
Rolling
Abrasions
Muscle fasciculations
Looks at flanks
Restlessness
Kicking abdomen
Sweating
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4
Q

What is spasmodic colic?

A

Pain caused by gastrointestinal tract spasm

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5
Q

If pawing is not observed, what sign might indicate that colic is occuring?

A

Disturbed bedding

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6
Q

What might be indicated by shaving’s in a horse mane?

A

Lateral recumbency - indicative of pain

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7
Q

Where do abrasions occur in the colicking horse?

A

Protuberant areas

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8
Q

What are muscle fasciculations?

A

Twitching/shaking

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9
Q

Where does colic due to displacement or impaction usually occur?

A

Large colon

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10
Q

Where are the majority of horses with colic treated?

A

In the field

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11
Q

Why is early referral important in colic cases that require surgery?

A

Increases chances of survival

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12
Q

List 8 points you should obtain when taking a colic history…

A 
Age
Time of colic onset
Degree of colic shown
Any treatments given
Previous colics
Last passed faeces
Management
Worming routine
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13
Q

Why are history and signalment important in a colic case?

A

Can help determine severity

Can help formulate DDx list

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14
Q

What should you focus on during an examination of a patient with colic?

A 
Demeanor and signs of pain
TPR
GI borborygmi
Cardiovascular status
Abdominal distension
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15
Q

Give 7 clinical signs of a mild colic

A 
Occasional pawing
Looking at flanks
Stretching out
Intermittent recumbency
Inappetance
Back up to a wall
Playing with water
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16
Q

Give 8 clinical signs of moderate colic

A 
Restlessness
Pawing
Cramping, attempting to go down
Crouching
Kicking at abdo
Lying down
Rolling
Groaning
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17
Q

Give 4 clinical signs associated with severe colic

A

Sweating
Violent rolling
Dropping to ground
Extreme restlessness

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18
Q

What might pyrexia in a horse colic exam indicate?

A

Colitis
Peritonitis
Enteritis

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19
Q

As colic worsens, what happens to heart rate?

A

Increases

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20
Q

Where do most impaction colics typically occur?

A

Pelvic flexure - left dorsal/ventral colon

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21
Q

What colour is normal peritoneal fluid of a horse?

A

Straw coloured

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22
Q

What are borboygmi caused by?

A

Intestinal motility

23
Q

What does a high pitched ‘ping’ of the abdomen indicate?

A

Gas distension of a viscus

24
Q

Where might you noticed abdominal distension in a horse?

A

Paralumbar fossa

25
List 5 ways to assess the CV system in a horse colic?
``` MM Capillary refill time Pulse quality Jugular fill Lim temperature ```
26
What should you do after examining a patient with colic?
Pass an NGT
27
Why is a NGT tube passed in the colicing horse?
Horses cannot vomit Stomach can rupture Tube relieves gas/liquid gastric distension
28
How much fluid reflux from a nasogastric tube is considered abnormal?
>2L
29
What is the main concern when treating colic patients with analgesia?
May mask symptoms and cause colic to appear less severe
30
List 4 aims of the rectal exam in a horse colic...
Identify normal structures Identify gas/ingesta distension Identify displacements Identify abnormal structures/masses
31
Describe what can be felt in a rectal examination of a horse..
``` Large intestines - wide diameter, sacculations, taenia bands Pelvic flexure - smooth mesenteric band only SI - Not normally palpable Caecum - RHS Spleen - LHS Left kidney Bladder Reproductive organs Aorta ```
32
Why might you not perform a rectal examination in a colicing horse?
Risk to you/horse
33
What is abdominocentesis?
Sampling of peritoneal fluid
34
Describe the abdominal fluid of a patient with a compromised intestine...
Contains cells and protein
35
List 4 causes of ischaemia within the abdomen of a horse...
Strangulating lesions Thomrotic lesions Volvulus/torsion Parasitic coagulopathy/DIC
36
List 7 strangulating lesions of the small intestine of a horse..
``` Volvulus Strangulating lipoma Epiploic foramen entrapment Inguinal/scrotal hernia Intussusceptions Diaphragmatic hernia Mesenteric rent ```
37
Give 2 strangulating lesions of the large intestine
Colon torsion | Intussusception
38
Give 2 clinical signs of small intestine lesion of a horse...
Reflux | Distended SI
39
Give 4 clinical signs of LI colic in a horse...
Potential abdominal distension Palpable impaction/gas accumulation Palpable displacement Usually no reflux
40
Give 2 SI colic lesions that can be treated medically
Ileus/enteritis | Grass sickness
41
List 8 SI colic lesions that require surgical intervention...
``` Volvulus Strangulating lipoma Epiploic foramen entrapment Inguninal/scrotal hernia Intussusception Diaphragmatic hernia Grass sickness ```
42
What is grass sickness?
Damage to the nervous system causing gut paralysis
43
List 6 large intestinal colic lesions that can be treated medically...
``` Spasmodic colic Impaction Left dorsal displacement Right dorsal displacement Colitis Typholocolitis ```
44
What is typhlitis?
Inflammation of the caecum
45
Give 2 large intestine lesions that require surgical intervention..
Colon torsion | Non-resolving displacements and impactions
46
What is the main reason for referring a colic patient?
Slightest suspicion of strangulating lesions
47
Other than a strangulating lesion, which colic cases should be referred?
Small intestinal lesions Conditions requiring intensive medical treatment (enteritis, colitis) Non-resolving impactions Recurring/chronic colic
48
Give 7 clinical signs of a colic patient that indicates referral.
``` Moderate to severe pain Recurrent pain Pain poorly responsive to analgesia Signs of CVS compromise Severe abdominal distension Signs of SI lesions Signs of stangulating lesions ```
49
List 7 short term complications of colic surgery
``` Anaesthesia complication Post-op colic Post-op ileus Incisional complications Thrombosis Peritonitis Laminitis ```
50
List 3 long-term (>4weeks) complications of colic surgery
Recurrent/chronic colic Adhesions Incisional hernia
51
Describe the prognosis of simple medical colic
Good - 90%
52
Describe the prognosis of a non-strangulating surgical colic
Good - 70-90%
53
Give 7 CV signs of a surgical colic
``` Heart rate >48bpm Abnormal mms. CRT >2s Prolonged skin tenting Delayed/no jugular fill Cold extremities Poor pulse quality ```

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