Exam 2 - Small Intestines

Question 1

what is outlined in green?

Answer 1

duodenum - pretty fixed location

Question 2

what are the arrows pointing to?

Answer 2

top - cranial duodenal flexure fixed along the caudal right liver by the hepatoduodenal ligament

bottom - caudal duodenal flexure fixed to the descending colon by the duodenocolic fold

Question 3

what view can you assess the duodenum?

Answer 3

left lateral

Question 4

what is outlined in green?

Answer 4

duodenum

Question 5

what is this? is it normal? what causes it?

Answer 5

pseudoulcer in a dog

yes

indentations in the duodenal mucosa at the sites of lymphoid follicles (peyer’s patches)

Question 6

is this normal in the cat?

Answer 6

yes - string of pearls appearance

Question 7

what can you do to assess whether you’re looking at the intestines or colon?

Answer 7

pneumocolonogram

Question 8

what is the normal diameter of the small intestines in the dog? how is it measured?

Answer 8

<1.6mm, normal

ratio of small intestinal diameter to the height of the L5 vertebral body measuring serosa to serosa

Question 9

what is an abnormal diameter of the small intestines in the dog? what is it supportive of?

Answer 9

> 1.9-2.0mm

supportive of obstruction

Question 10

what is the normal diameter of the small intestines in the cat?

Answer 10

less than 12mm diameter measuring serosa to serosa

Question 11

what is ileus?

Answer 11

temporary arrest of intestinal peristalsis

Question 12

if this is functional ileus, how would you describe the radiographic appearance?

Answer 12

diffuse dilation of the intestinal tract due to decreased/absent motility

Question 13

what are some examples of causes of functional ileus?

Answer 13

gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, peritonitis, etc

Question 14

what is the exception to the two population rule in mechanical ileus?

Answer 14

if there is a distal obstruction, you would see diffuse small intestinal dilation

Question 15

what is the main radiographic finding associated with mechanical ileus?

Answer 15

‘two populations of small intestines’

Question 16

what kind of ileus is suspected here? why?

Answer 16

mechanical ileus

2 populations of bowel seen

Question 17

what type of ileus is associated with the ‘gravel sign’?

Answer 17

partial mechanical ileus

Question 18

what is the gravel sign?

Answer 18

granular debris that has accumulated proximal to the obstruction

Question 19

what is the typical history of an animal with a partial obstruction from mechanical ileus?

Answer 19

chronic or intermittent vomiting, weight loss

Question 20

what is the typical history of an animal with a complete obstruction from mechanical ileus?

Answer 20

acute vomiting

Question 21

this is an example of what kind of mechanical ileus?

Answer 21

complete obstruction

Question 22

what are the blue arrows pointing to?

Answer 22

gravel sign

Question 23

this is an example of what kind of mechanical ileus?

Answer 23

partial obstruction

Question 24

there is a specific radiographic appearance associated with this condition. what is it? describe it

Answer 24

linear foreign body

plication/bunching of the small intestines

multiple, fragmented, irregularly shaped gas bubbles in the intestinal tract, duodenum displaced medially in the VD view, & may see material in the dorsal aspect of the pylorus on the left lateral view