The use of percutaneous abdominal ultrasound examination in diagnosing equine small intestinal disorders

In equine field practice, the diagnosis of small intestinal disorders is usually based on the presence of distended loops on rectal palpation and large volumes of reflux obtained after the passage of a nasogastric tube. Percutaneous abdominal ultrasound examination has been widely utilized in both human and small animal internal medicine in most cases of gastrointestinal discomfort. The purpose of this study was to identify which measurable parameters were important in reaching a diagnosis of small intestinal abnormality and determining treatment options. Horses of various age, sex and breed were involved in this research. Identifying the number of areas where distended loops of small intestine (SI) were detected, their diameter in cross section and motility were the most important parameters identified when formulating a prognosis.