[Sonographic topography of abdominal organs and structures in equine neonates]

The study aimed to present a systematic and standardized examination for neonatal foals' abdominal sonography and to describe physiological topographic conditions of some abdominal organs and structures.

A standardized sonographic examination of the abdomen was performed in 57 foals in left and right lateral recumbency. Left and right intercostal spaces as well as the ventral abdomen which was divided into 6 segments (left, middle and right cranial, left middle and right caudal abdomen) were examined. The locations, in which the various organs could be found, were described. Furthermore death foals were examined sonographically followed by a necropsy to verify the organs' topography.

A standardized systematic examination for abdominal ultrasonography in neonatal foals could be developed and the extension of some abdominal organs could be described. The umbilical vein is localized in the middle cranial segment, the urachus in the middle caudal segment. The umbilical arteries start in the middle caudal segment und spread into the left and right one. The bladder is constantly found in the caudal aspect of the abdomen and extents, depending on its filling, in the middle or in the left and right segments as well. The right kidney is located in the 15th to 17th intercostal space (ICS), the left kidney in the 16th and 17th ICS. The spleen can be visualized in the left 10th to 16th ICS and often in the left cranial abdominal segment. The liver is found in the middle and right cranial segment and the right 16th to 17th ICS and in the left 7th ICS. The stomach is located in the left and middle cranial segment and in the left 9th to 11th ICS, the duodenum constantly in the right 12th ICS. The jejunum can be found in the left caudal and the middle abdominal segments. Caecum is in the right 15th ICS to the fossa paralumbalis and the colon in both right segments and the middle caudal one.

By examining the neonatal foals' abdomen in a systematic ultrasonographic way the most important abdominal organs can be visualized.