Ultrasonographic control of the gastrointestinal system of hospitalized horses with primary complaints of lameness undergoing or not orthopedic surgery

Colic in horses presents a challenge in veterinary medicine because of its complexity, wide variety of risk factors and the serious outcome for affected animals. Colic can occur as a complication of hospitalization with increased risk in orthopedic patients, usually undergoing general anesthesia. Abdominal ultrasound has proven to be a valuable tool among the various methods that help the veterinarian to find a diagnosis in patients with colic, but the use of abdominal ultrasound for prediction or early detection of colic has not yet been fully explored. This study used serial sonographic examinations in horses hospitalized for orthopedic conditions, submitted and not submitted to arthroscopy in order to evaluate it as a tool for early detection of colic. 40 horses were divided into two groups of 20 animals. Group 1 consisted of horses admitted to the hospital for surgical management under general anesthesia. Group 2 comprised horses admitted to the hospital for medically managed orthopedic cases. Group 1 consisted of horses admitted to the hospital for surgical management under general anesthesia. Group 2 comprised horses admitted to the hospital for medically managed orthopedic cases. Group 1 consisted of horses admitted to the hospital for orthopedic surgery. Group 2 comprised horses admitted to the hospital for medically managed orthopedic cases. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed daily from admission to fifth day of hospitalization. Group 1 animals also had pre- and post-operative ultrasonographic evaluation to assess the effect of surgery on the gastrointestinal system. Ultrasonography was not successful at early detection of colic in any animal. The results also showed a higher incidence of colic in animals undergoing surgery (with no statistical difference), particularly on the second or third day postoperative, as well as a reduction in both large and small colon motility in animals undergoing surgery. No significant changes in wall thickness of the evaluated loops were observed. In conclusion, ultrasonographic examination could not successfully predict colic but was useful for confirmation of gastrointestinal originof clinical symptoms during the examination of affected animals (AU)