Gastrointestinal emergencies Flashcards
An acute abdomen can be caused by: (2)
Abdominal pain
Pain in the lumbar and / or sacrum region
Describe AHDS.
Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis / acute haemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS)
Very acute bloody diarrhea, +/- bloody vomiting
Often accompanied by severe hypovolemic shock
Small breeds have a predisposition
Blood analysis during AHDS may show: (3)
Strong haemoconcentration
Low TP
Increased LAC
Treatment of AHDS should include: (5)
Fluid therapy, shock boluses if necessary
Antiemetics
Gastroprotectants
+/- antibiotics
Feeding
Describe Parvovirus cases
Infectious disease (unvaccinated animals)
Acute vomiting / diarrhea
Blood samples typically see:
- Neutropenia
- Hypoalbuminemia
Severe hypovolemic shock / dehydration
Rapid test Parvo antigen to diagnose
treat with Antiemetics, gastroprotectants, antibiotics
Feeding
Pancreatitis clinical signs
Clinical symptoms are non-specific
Vomiting
Painful abdomen
Inappetence
+/- diarrhea
History often includes a change in diet or fatty food.
Do diagnostic imaging.
Blood analysis of Pancreatitis cases typically see: (5)
Dehydration
ALT, ALP, CHOL, TBIL
Pre-renal azotemia
Specific snap tests
Neutrophilia
Describe xray imaging for pancreatitis. (3)
Opacity of the cranial abdominal region.
Enlargement of the pyloric and
duodenal angle.
Displacement of the stomach to the
left
Describe ultrasound for pancreatitis. (3)
Peritoneal fluid around the pancreas
Hyperechoic peri-pancreatic region
Hypoechoic pancreas
Treatment of pancreatitis.
In uncomplicated cases, clinical improvement will be seen in 48h.
Fluid therapy
Antiemetics
+/- antibiotics
Feeding, feeding tube if necessary
NB! Cats prone to “triaditis”
- IBD
- Hepatitis
- Pancreatitis
Describe Foreign bodies In the esophagus -cases
May present with Regurgitation, vomiting, coughing, breathing difficulties.
Risk of esophageal perforation
- Spasm of the muscle layer of the esophagus, necrosis of the mucosa.
Complications
- Mediastinitis and pleuritis
- Pyothorax
Endoscopy preferred
Surgery may be required case dependent
Describe Foreign bodies In the stomach / intestinal tract -cases
Anamnesis: Is foreign body likely, is some toy or object missing / has been chewed up etc.?
Diagnostics
- Xray, +/- contrast
- Ultrasound
Treatment either surgical or endoscopic.
What is Intussuseption?
Typical types?
Typical patient?
Invagination of a portion of the intestinal tract into the lumen of the adjacent section
of the bowel.
Typical types: ileocolic in dogs and jejunojejunal in cats.
Generally <1y of age.
Possible causes of intussusception: (7)
motility disorder,
enteritis,
infection (virus, bacterial, parasitic),
foreign bodies,
prior surgery,
adhesions,
neoplasia
Describe a suspected intussusception patient/case.
Diagnosis made by?
History: anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea
Physical examination: dehydration, tachycardia, abdominal pain, mass in abdomen, thickness of intestinal wall, signs of shock.
Diagnosis is made usually based on ultrasound.
Other diagnostics are also necessary for evaluation of the patient.
Initial stabilization of an intussusception case.
First aim: resolution of dehydration.
- Bolus of crystalloid 15 – 20 ml/kg/h for 20min then reassessment.
If hemodynamically stable, then correction of dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Antiemetics
Analgesia- opioids
If we suspect sepsis – antibiotics
Minimal database: PCV, TP, GLU, LAC, LYTE4
Describe surgery of intussusception.
Only After initial stabilization
Diagnostic laparotomy:
- Check the GI tract fully
- Often there is more than one intussusception place.
Manual reduction: is often not possible so
Intestine resection and anastomosis is required.
Afterwards perform Enteroplication so that it would not repeat.
Prognosis after intussusception surgery.
Recurrence 3 – 27%. Usually within 3 days.
Recurrence more common if
enteroplication is not performed.
AKI can be categorized as…
IRIS acute kidney injury Grade I-V
AKI Grade allocated based on blood creatinine and clinical description.
Grade I: < 1.6 mg/dl CREA, nonazotemic AKI (see image)
and so on
AKI are mostly what type?
Ischemic/inflammatory 58%
Infectious 8%
Toxic 6%
Septic some smaller %
& In up to 50% of AKI cases, the underlying
cause is not known.
Clinical signs of AKI.
Apathy
Vomiting
Anorexia
Polyuria, oliguria, anuria
Halitosis, necrosis of the tip of the tongue, peripheral edema (uremia).
Why would necrosis of the tip of the tongue be seen in animals with acute kidney injury?
uremia causes damage to various tissues, including the oral mucosa, which can lead to ulceration and necrosis of soft tissues such as the tongue.
Kidney dysfunction can also lead to vascular abnormalities, such as vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) or microthrombi.
urinalysis in AKI may see: (3)
Isosthenuria
Stix: glycosuria, proteinuria, bilirubinuria
pH acidic
hematology in AKI may see: (3)
Hemoconcentration or low PCV
Leukocytosis – infectious
Leptospirosis / borreliosis