La Med - Equine Acute Abdomen - Fall 3Rd Year

Front 1

What is the most common cause of equine abdominal discomfort?

Back 1

Spasmodic colic!

Front 2

What is colloquially known as a "banamine deficiency"?

Back 2

Spasmodic colic

Front 3

Which equine colics are ACUTE?

Back 3

Spamodic colic
Flatulent Colic
Large Colon Impaction
Enteroliths (can be)
Colon Displacements
Volvuli/Torsions
Grain overload

SI impaction

Sand colic

Incarcerated SI (mesenteric rents, mesodiverticular bands, epiploic foramen entrapment)

Pedunculated lipoma

Gastrosplenic entrapment

SI volvulus

Intussuception

Ascarid impaction

Duodenitis proximal jejunitis

Front 4

Which of the colics typically impact young animals? What else should probably be on your differential list for these?

Back 4

Small Colon Impaction (think about Salmonella also);
SI strangulation due to mesenteric rents, mesodiverticular bands;
Intussusceptions;
Ascarid impactions

Front 5

Which of the colics do you really only find in older horses?

Back 5

Enteroliths
SI strangulation d/t pedunculated lipoma

epiploic foramen entrapment

Front 6

Rectal palpation will likely be diagnostic for which of the following:
a) Spasmodic colic
b) Flatulent Colic
c) Large colon impaction
d) sand colic
e) enteroliths

Back 6

b) Flatulent Colic
c) Large colon impaction

Front 7

Gas or abdominal distention is commonly associated with which of the following?
a) Spasmodic colic
b) Flatulent Colic
c) Large colon impaction
d) Enteroliths
e) Colon strangulation

Back 7

b) flatulent colic
d) enteroliths
e) Colon strangulation

Front 8

Anorexia is a common sign of which of the following?
a) Spasmodic colic
b) Flatulent Colic
c) Large colon impaction
d) sand colic
e) enteroliths

Back 8

c) Large colon impaction

Front 9

What are postulated causes for enteroliths? Where are they commonly found? What is the pathogenesis?

Back 9

Foreign material or certain alfalfa hay; maybe water source;
Lodge in transverse colon, RDC, maybe pelvic flexure
Acts like a one-way ball valve

Front 10

Which colic is associated with diarrhea, weight loss, and diagnosis via ventral auscultation?

Back 10

Sand colic

Front 11

Which of the following can present with a intense and/or unrelenting pain?
a) Spasmodic colic
b) Flatulent Colic
c) Large colon impaction
d) sand colic
e) enteroliths

Back 11

b) Flatulent Colic (can be intense)
e) Enteroliths (can be unrelenting)

Front 12

Which of the following may show abnormal abdominocentesis?
a) Spasmodic colic
b) Flatulent Colic
c) Large colon impaction
d) sand colic
e) enteroliths

Back 12

Large colon impaction

Front 13

How can sand colic be diagnosed? How can it be treated and/or prevented?

Back 13

Dx: via ventral auscultation, fecal sedimentation, maybe rads.
Tx: with Sx or psyllium (psyllium 1 week/month can be preventive)

Front 14

T or F:
Cecal and small colon impactions are slow onset.

Back 14

True

Front 15

Fecal python =

Back 15

Small colon impaction

Front 16

If you go to do an abdominocentesis and get a blood that clots in your tube, how might you interpret this?

Back 16

You stabbed the spleeeeen! There might be a nephrosplenic entrapment, pulling the spleen to the right!

Front 17

In which of the following is rectal palpation usually diagnostic?
a) cecal impaction
b) proximal enteritis
c) colon strangulation
d) nephrosplenic entrapment
e) colon displacement

Back 17

a) cecal impaction
b) proximal enteritis
d) nephrosplenic entrapment
e) colon displacement
(note - colon strangulation may be too far cranial to palpate!)

Front 18

T or F:
Cecal impaction is the most common cause of cecal obstruction.

Back 18

Believe it or not - it's true!

Front 19

How are impactions treated?

Back 19

Aggressive fluid therapy (Oral + IV)
Analgesia
Surgery
(peri-op enema for small colon impactions)

Front 20

Which of the following DOES typically have a favorable prognosis?
a) Small colon impactions
b) Nephrosplenic entrapment
c) Right dorsal displacement
d) Colon strangulation
e) cecal impaction

Back 20

a) Small colon impactions
b) Nephrosplenic entrapment
c) Right dorsal displacement

Front 21

Which of the following is characterized by decreased fecal passage?
a) cecal impactions
b) colon strangulation
c) small intestinal strangulation
d) small colon impactions
e) grain overload

Back 21

d) small colon impactions (is the only one from the notes - I think that cecal impaction could be argued)

Front 22

What is the normal heart rate for a horse? For a horse in moderate pain? Severe pain?

Back 22

32-44 normal
50-60 moderate pain
80-100 severe pain

Front 23

Which colic receives a peri-operative enema with surgical treatment?

Back 23

Small colon impactions

Front 24

Colon displacement is named relative to where the _________ colon is in the abdomen.

Back 24

LEFT COLON

Front 25

What are the two main forms of colon displacement?

Back 25

Left dorsal (nephrosplenic entrapment)
Right dorsal

Front 26

What are some non-surgical techniques for reducing a nephrosplenic entrapment?

Back 26

Roll 360 degrees (start on R lateral)
Phenylephrine + lunging

Front 27

T or F:
Right dorsal colonic displacement must be reduced surgically due to its potential for rupture while nephrosplenic entrapment, with a lower rupture potential, can be reduced medically.

Back 27

False! Both have a potential for colon rupture!

Front 28

You note the absence of the left kidney on equine ultrasound. Which colic may cause this?

Back 28

Nephrosplenic entrapment of the colon

Front 29

What is the most painful and severe form of colic?

Back 29

Colon strangulation (torsion or volvulus)

Front 30

A 7yo horse that was in last week for some crazy ortho procedure presents with a mild colic with a HR of 60. Rectal palpation finds the large bowel engorged with a soft material. What is your TOP differential! Any others?

Back 30

1) Cecal impaction
2) maybe large colon impaction (but this would be more acute)

Front 31

T or F:
There is often little to no vascular compromise in colonic displacements.

Back 31

True!

Front 32

What is the common signalment for colon strangulation?

Back 32

Post-parturient brood mare (30d out)

Front 33

How might a horse present with a strangulated colon?

Back 33

SEVERE COLIC
HR >80
Abdominal distention
most likely post-parturient brood mare

Front 34

How is a strangulated colon treated?

Back 34

SURGERY within 4 hours or colon is DEAD

Front 35

What are presurgical treatments for small intestinal strangulation?

Back 35

Treat shock first!
(NSAIDs, fluids, analgesics)

Front 36

A serosanguinous abdominocentesis is indicative of...

Back 36

...Small intestinal strangulation
maybe nephrosplenic entrapment (but this should look like frank blood and CLOT)

Front 37

Which colic happens more in fall/winter?

Back 37

Small colon impactions

Front 38

Which are FALSE regarding intussusceptions in horses?
a) it has a nematode association
b) Foals and yearlings get them more often
c) intussusceptum is inside the intussuscipiens
d) cecocolic is the most common form

Back 38

a) it has a nematode association (NO, IT'S CESTODE)
d) cecocolic is the most common form (NO, IT'S ILEOCECAL ORIFICE)

Front 39

Gastric decompression helps the most with which colic?

Back 39

Duodenitis Proximal jejunitis ;
Distended SI will decrease w/treatment

Front 40

Which colic is associated with young rescue horses?

Back 40

Ascarid impaction

Front 41

Which colic may present with HR >100 at times?

Back 41

Grain overload

Front 42

Which colics may present with diarrhea?

Back 42

Grain overload
Sand colic

Front 43

Which arteries are affected in verminous enteritis?

Back 43

Cranial mesenteric artery (textbook lesion)
Ileocecocolic artery too

Front 44

You see a horse out in Scio that presents with severe pain, high protein in abdominocentesis, and has reflux. What is your top diagnosis? How will you treat this horse?

Back 44

Small intestinal strangulation;
bring him to surgery!

Front 45

You see a horse out in Hotlanta that presents with severe pain, high protein in abdominocentesis, and has reflux. What is your top diagnosis? How will you treat this horse?

Back 45

Duodenitis Proximal jejunitis;
REFLUX, fluids and acid/base therapy, prokinetics, parenteral support, laminitis prevention, maybe explore if strangulation suspect

Front 46

T or F:
The ONLY treatment for an ascarid impaction is surgery!

Back 46

True!