Contribution of abdominal radiography to the diagnosis of enterolithiasis in horses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2024v45n4p1317Keywords:
Horse, Imaging diagnosis, Impaction colic, Multiple correspondence analysis.Abstract
Enteroliths are mineralized concretions found in the large intestines of horses that can cause impaction colic by impeding normal enteric flow, typically at points of reduced intestinal diameter. They are highly prevalent and significantly detrimental in the equestrian environment. A presumptive diagnosis is based on the history and clinical signs, while a definitive diagnosis is possible only through exploratory laparotomy or abdominal radiography. This study aimed to determine the clinical applicability of established parameters for performing radiographic diagnoses in cases of equine enterolithiasis and to compare these findings between a group with enterolithiasis and a control group. The medical records of 92 horses treated for colic syndrome between June 2022 and October 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. This included 32 animals presenting with clinical signs of impaction colic originating from the large intestine or with a history of recurrent abdominal pain, all of whom underwent abdominal radiography and for whom definitive diagnosis was achieved through laparotomy. The study groups comprised 12 control animals and 20 in the enterolithiasis group. The study investigated the influence of the size, number, and location of enteroliths on radiographic detection, in addition to identifying factors that hindered the performance of the diagnostic technique and its correlation with surgical findings. During the study, 85.5% of the animals in the enterolithiasis group (17/20) were pre-surgically diagnosed with enterolith through abdominal radiography, while three animals presented false-negative results and were diagnosed through exploratory laparotomy. The number of concretions showed significant statistical relevance. The main factors that interfered with the radiographic diagnosis were abdominal distension, weight, and body condition score. These findings indicate that this diagnostic method, regardless of the obstructed segment and the number of enteroliths, is easier to apply when more than one concretion is present. The study demonstrated that abdominal digital radiography is an important auxiliary method for pre-surgical diagnosis in cases of equine enterolithiasis. The feasibility of this diagnostic method was found not to depend on the obstructed segment or the number of enteroliths, which are more easily observed in animals with more than one concretion. However, caution is advised when interpreting images of obese horses or those with abdominal distension due to gas, as these conditions have led to false-negative diagnoses. This research highlights the importance of abdominal radiography in managing enterolith cases for timely therapeutic intervention and improved prognosis.
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