Equine Abdomen

Question 1

what are the main indications for abdominal ultrasound?

Answer 1

chronic colic
fever of unknown origin

Question 2

which probe is usually used in equine?

Answer 2

curvilinear 2-5 MHz

Question 3

where should you start when ultrasounding a horse?

Answer 3

paralumbar fossa

Question 4

what can you see on the right side ultrasounding a horse?

Answer 4

cecum
cecal mesentery
right kidney
duodenum
right dorsal colon
liver

Question 5

what can you see on the left side when ultrasounding a horse?

Answer 5

spleen
left kidney
stomach
liver: spleen/liver interface
small intestine deep

Question 6

where should you look for the right kidney?

Answer 6

more cranial than left kidney
seen right ICS 15-17
best: right ICS 16, may have to wait for exhalation

Question 7

what is normal kidney size?

Answer 7

5-8cm by 15-18cm

Question 8

when is the corticomedullary junction very distinct?

Answer 8

acute renal injury/failure

Question 9

where is the duodenum seen?

Answer 9

ventral to right kidney and deep to right liver lobe

Question 10

what are the 3 parameters for the duodenum?

Answer 10

wall thickness: <3mm
distension: <5cm
motility

Question 11

what might duodenitis lead to?

Answer 11

delayed gastric emptying

Question 12

where is the right liver lobe seen?

Answer 12

ICS 8-15 on right side

Question 13

how can you determine the size of the right liver?

Answer 13

should not extend to costochondral junctions

Question 14

when might hepatoliths be clinically relevant?

Answer 14

if accompanied by bile duct dilation

Question 15

when should you consider a US-guided liver biopsy?

Answer 15

blood work and/or ultrasound are abnormal

Question 16

how much peritoneal fluid is normal?

Answer 16

a few small pockets of anechoic fluid

Question 17

what might numerous pockets or large pockets of peritoneal fluid indicate?

Answer 17

peritonitis: inflammatory or septic

Question 18

where is the left kidney seen?

Answer 18

more caudal than right kidney
usually seen in paralumbar fossa/ICS 17
seen deep to spleen

Question 19

is large colon dorsal to spleen with inability to see the left kidney definitive of left dorsal displacement?

Answer 19

no- only consistent

Question 20

what is the most common abnormality of the spleen?

Answer 20

neoplasia

Question 21

what is the wall thickness of the stomach?

Answer 21

up to 8cm
normal to see wall layering

Question 22

what would indicate gastric distension?

Answer 22

extend past L ICS 15
round curvature
gas/fluid interface
ventral extension

Question 23

what should you evaluate the kidneys for?

Answer 23

size and shape
renal cortex: echogenicity and thickness
distinction of corticomedullary junction
renal pelvis

Question 24

how big is the renal cortex?

Answer 24

less than 1-1.2cm

Question 25

when are renal cysts thought to be more than incidental?

Answer 25

bilateral or numerous

Question 26

how often should peristaltic motion be in the duodenum?

Answer 26

every 30 seconds or less

Question 27

how can you identify duodenitis?

Answer 27

duodenal wall >3mm biopsy via gastroscopy is recommended

Question 28

what should vascular markings be like in the liver?

Answer 28

fine, pretty easy to see

Question 29

do hepatoliths cast shadows?

Answer 29

many will

Question 30

what is a starry sky pattern?

Answer 30

numerous hyperechoic foci granuloma, biliary/vascular fibrosis, microabscesses

Question 31

what is the wall thickness of the right dorsal colon?

Answer 31

<3mm

Question 32

where is the right dorsal colon seen?

Answer 32

ventral to liver

Question 33

what might you see in the right ventral abdomen?

Answer 33

retroperitoneal fat cecum/colon cecal mesentery peritoneal fluid

Question 34

where is the stomach seen?

Answer 34

left 8-15th intercostal space ventral to lung

Question 35

how far can the left liver extend?

Answer 35

past costochondral junctions left intercostal spaces 7-10