Diagnostic Techniques of Equine Abdominal Cavity Flashcards
what is ultrasonography best for (7)
- small intestinal abnormalities
- imaging the liver/spleen/kidneys
- gastric distention
- left dorsal displacement
- colitis
- large colon volvulus
- right dorsal displacements
how should you assess the full abdomen (where do you start and what direction)
start caudally on the right and work cranially assessing each ICS
repeat on the left side
ventral abdomen
what is the targeted emergency assessment using US (5)
- inguinal left and right (less hair)
- left flank (nephrosplenic space)
- gastric window (left)
- duodenal window (right)
- ventral
where is the small intestine mostly found on US
inguinal area
but can be anywhere
what should you assess when looking at small intestines (3)
- motility
- distention
- wall thickness
what should the width of the small intestine lumen be on US
<4cm is normal
>4cm is distended
how thick should the small intestine wall be on US
<4mm is normal
>4mm is abnormal
what can be seen here
multiple loops of dilated small intestine
>4cm diameter
no motility
contents separates
what are mechanical obstructions of the small intestine
- simple luminal obstructions
- strangulating obstructions
what are functional obstructions of the small intestine
- enteritis
- ileus
where is the duodenal window
right side
14th-15th ICS in the dorsal/middle third
from cranial pole of right kidney tracking cranioventrally beneath liver
what would a normal duodenum window look like
non distended
motile
what should the wall thickness of the duodenum be
<4mm
>4mm distended
what should the duodenum lumen width be
<4cm
>4cm distended
what is shown here
liver
duodenum
right dorsal colon
where is the gastric window
left side
8-12th ICS in middle third
where can you find the stomach
the gastric window
seen in 4 ICS
how do you assess distention of the stomach on US (2)
- how far back/how many ICS –> does it go back to the 14th or 15th ICS
- height of the stomach
what is seen here
stomach
where can you find the nephrospenic space
splenorenal window
where is the splenorenal window
left, dorsal behind last rib or 17th ICS
what is the normal appearance of the kidney and spleen on US
kidney should be deep to spleen
what would be abnormal in the splenorenal window
colon obscures kidney –> may displace the spleen ventrally
left dorsal displacement (nephrosplenic entrapement)
what is shown here
spleen and the left kidney
what breed of horses are more predisposed to nephrosplenic entrapment
warmbloods
large breed horses
will abdominocentesis be normal with a nephrosplenic entrapment
yes
would can you feel on rectal with a nephrosplenic entrapment
medial displacement of spleen, cannot palpate kidney
where is the colon on US
seen variably throughout abdomen
RDC deep to the liver