Changes

The horse should be restrained in stocks ideally. The desired region is clipped and a generous quantity of coupling gel is applied. The liver can be viewed from both left and right sides, however if there is a reduction in hepatic mass then it will be easier to view it from the left side, between the 7th and 9th intercostal spaces. The hepatic architecture, size, location and dimensions of the hepatic veins and bile ducts should be noted. The spleen can be visualised from the left hand side between the 8th and 17th intercostal spaces. The same parameters should be noted.  

The horse should be restrained in stocks ideally. The desired region is clipped and a generous quantity of coupling gel is applied. The liver can be viewed from both left and right sides, however if there is a reduction in hepatic mass then it will be easier to view it from the left side, between the 7th and 9th intercostal spaces. The hepatic architecture, size, location and dimensions of the hepatic veins and bile ducts should be noted. The spleen can be visualised from the left hand side between the 8th and 17th intercostal spaces. The same parameters should be noted.  

The fundus of the stomach can be imaged from the left side, ventral to the diaphragm and lung,medial to the spleen, between the 9th and 12th intercostal spaces. The wall of the stomach is hypoechoic to echoic and can be up to 7.5 mm thick. The duodenum can be imaged on the right side of the horse, starting at the 10th intercostal space, medial to the right lobe of the liver. continuing caudally alongside the right dorsal colon up to the caudal pole of the right kidney. In the short-axis (cross-sectional) it appears as an oval structure with a wall thickness of 3 mm or less. The duodenum often appears collapsed with periodic waves of peristalsis seen in real-time on the ultrasound image. The jejunum is not often visualised in adult horses. It may be seen in some horses when scanning the mid-ventral left abdomen, running next to the stomach. Comparatively, it is easily visualised in foals running along the ventral abdomen.

The fundus of the stomach can be imaged from the left side, ventral to the diaphragm and lung,medial to the spleen, between the 9th and 12th intercostal spaces. The wall of the stomach is hypoechoic to echoic and can be up to 7.5 mm thick.  

 

The duodenum can be imaged on the right side of the horse, starting at the 10th intercostal space, medial to the right lobe of the liver. continuing caudally alongside the right dorsal colon up to the caudal pole of the right kidney. In the short-axis (cross-sectional) it appears as an oval structure with a wall thickness of 3 mm or less. The duodenum often appears collapsed with periodic waves of peristalsis seen in real-time on the ultrasound image. The jejunum is not often visualised in adult horses. It may be seen in some horses when scanning the mid-ventral left abdomen, running next to the stomach. Comparatively, it is easily visualised in foals running along the ventral abdomen. The small intestines appear as small tubular structures in the longitudinal-axis and circular in the short-axis.  The ileum can be visualised by scanning trans-rectally in the adult horse as it lies in the dorsocaudal abdomen. It is a more muscular part of the small intestine as has a wall thickness of 4 - 5 mm. Periodic waves of peristalsis can be visualised in every part of the small intestine.