Small animal abdominal pain

Question 1

What is an acute abdomen?

Answer 1

syndrome that involves acute onset of clinical signs secondary to an intra-abdominal, typically potentially fatal disorder. Pain is a strong feature

Question 2

4 main causes of abdominal pain

Answer 2

distension of a hollow organ
inflammation
traction
ischaemia

Question 3

What are the common signs of abdominal pain?

Answer 3

prayer position (dog)
grunting / groaning
toxin
exposure to other infected animals
vacc status
medication
trauma

Question 4

Diagnostic tests

Answer 4

palpation
ultrasonography
free fluid exam (aspirate and analyse)
radiography (free peritoneal gas)

Question 5

What is GDV? (gastric dilation and volvulus)

Answer 5

twist of the stomach, the pyloris twists to the left ventrally

Question 6

Problem with GDV

Answer 6

• obstruct caudal VC
• increase gastric pressure and cause avulsion of short gastric BV (mucosal haemorrhage and gut wall necrosis)
• stretch and avulsion of splenic vessels (splenic necrosis)
• cranial pressure on diaphragm (decreases ventilation)

Question 7

Consequences / complications of GDV

Answer 7

metabolic derangement
arrhythmias
endotoxaemia
DIC
aspiration pneumonia
ventricular premature complexes

Question 8

Diagnostic test for GDV?

Answer 8

right lateral radiograph - stomach compartmentalised into two by a soft tissue band

Question 9

How to treat GDV?

Answer 9

1) deflate stomach with an orogastric tube (if not possible use a catheter)
2) incisional gastropexy - rotate stomach back, resect any necrotic areas, make a partial thickness incision in the stomach wall and a matching incision on the corresponding body wall. use PDS to suture the new incisions together (pyloric antrum to R body wall)
3) antacids, prokinetics, antibiotics, potassium
4) if need to place a stomach tube do during surgery