Diarrhea - Illanes Flashcards
What is diarrhea?
Abnormally fluid/unformed stools with increased frequency and/or volume.
What process in the gut predominates in cases of diarrhea?
Secretory
What are the 4 pathophysiologic mechanisms of diarrhea?
Osmotic (malabsorption/maldigestion)
Secretory
Increased permeability (exudative)
Altered motility
What is osmotic diarrhea?
Malabsorption of osmotically active particles promotes movement of water into GI lumen, overwhelming absorptive capability of the SI and LI.
What are some examples of osmotic diarrhea?
Sudden dietary changes
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (dogs)
TGE (young pigs)
How does exocrine pancreatic insufficiency contribute to osmotic diarrhea?
Can’t digest food properly, so particles draw fluid into GI lumen.
What is steatorrhea?
Voluminous, pale, fatty feces.
What causes steatorrhea?
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
What is secretory diarrhea?
Infectious agents disrupt absorptive/secretory process of enterocytes, electrolytes are secreted and water follows.
What is exudative diarrhea?
Disease causing mucosal damage and inflammation, increasing permeability and allowing passive loss of fluid.
What is a clinical example of exudative diarrhea?
R. equi induced enterocolitis in foals
How common are primary disorders of motility in vet med?
Not very.
What causes intestinal transit to accelerate in cases of diarrhea?
Stimulation of peristalsis by increased intraluminal volumes.
What is primary GI disease?
V/D is result of disease within the GIT.
What is secondary GI disease?
V/D is a manifestation of disease somewhere else.
