Difference between revisions of "Intestinal Obstruction"

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{{unfinished}}
 
 
{{dog}}
 
{{cat}}
 
 
 
 
 
==Signalment==
 
==Signalment==
 
+
*No breed predisposition
 
+
*No sex predilection
  
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
Intestinal obstruction can be classified as acute or chronic, partial or complete, simple or incarcerated.  The cause of the obstruction can be intraluminal, extraluminal or intramural.  Most common causes of intestinal obstruction include intussusception, neoplasia and foreign body.  Young animals are more likely to develop intussusception following gastroenteritis or intestinal surgery.  Other causes include intetinal volvulus and obstruction due to incarcerated intestinal loops.
+
'''Intestinal obstruction''' can be classified as acute or chronic, partial or complete, simple or incarcerated.  The cause of the obstruction can be intraluminal, extraluminal or intramural.  Most common causes of intestinal obstruction include [[Intussusception|intussusception]], neoplasia and foreign body.  [[Intussusception|Intussusception]] is more likely in young animals with a history of gastroenteritis or intestinal surgery.  Cats frequently present with linear foreign bodies.  Other less common causes include intestinal torsion/volvulus and incarcerated intestinal obstruction.  Neoplasia is more commonly present in middle-aged to older animals.
  
 
==Diagnosis==
 
==Diagnosis==
 
===Clinical Signs===
 
===Clinical Signs===
 +
The clinical presentation depends on the cause, severity, and the site of obstruction.  Upper small intestinal obstruction causes a net fluid secretion whereas lower small intestinal obstruction causes a net fluid resorption.  [[Antibiotic Responsive Diarrhoea|Antibiotic responsive diarrhoea]] is more likely to occur in distal small intestinal obstruction.
 +
 
====Simple obstruction====
 
====Simple obstruction====
*Vomiting; the further the obstruction is towards the mouth, the more frequent the vomiting is
+
*[[Vomiting|Vomiting]]; the further the obstruction is towards the mouth, the frequency and the volume is higher
*Moribund or in septic shock; if part of the intestine becomes devitalised, resulting in septic peritonitis
+
*Moribund or in septic shock; in cases where part of the intestine becomes devitalised, resulting in septic peritonitis
 
*Abdominal foreign body, mass or obstructive ileus may be palpable
 
*Abdominal foreign body, mass or obstructive ileus may be palpable
  
 +
====Incarcerated intestinal obstruction====
 +
*Acute [[Vomiting|vomiting]]
 +
*Abdominal pain
 +
*Depression
 +
*[[Shock#Endotoxic shock|Endotoxic shock]] with toxic mucous membranes and tachycardia
  
 +
====Intestinal torsion/volvulus====
 +
Acute and severe onset of:
 +
*nausea
 +
*retching
 +
*[[Vomiting|vomiting]] ± bloody diarrhoea
 +
*acute abdomen
 +
*abdominal fluid accumulation
 +
*depression
  
 +
====Linear foreign body====
 +
*[[Vomiting|Vomiting]]; food, bile and/or phlegm
 +
*Anorexia, depression
  
 
===Laboratory Tests===
 
===Laboratory Tests===
 
====Haematology====
 
====Haematology====
 
+
*Mild dehydration to septic shock
  
 
====Biochemistry====
 
====Biochemistry====
 
+
*Hypochloraemia and hypokalaemia acid-base derangement is common in animals with intestinal obstruction.
 
+
*Metabolic alkalosis ± aciduria may occur with upper duodenal obstruction.
====Other Tests====
 
 
 
  
 
===Diagnostic Imaging===
 
===Diagnostic Imaging===
 
====Radiography====
 
====Radiography====
*Plain abdominal radiography may be all that is needed to reveal the cause of the obstruction.
+
*Plain abdominal radiography may be all that is needed to reveal the cause of the obstruction.  Gas and fluid accumulation may be visible due to intestinal dilation.  Decreased serosal detail indicates peritoneal fluid accumulation and free gas in the abdomen suggests perforated intestines.  Gravel sign due to food particle accumulation may be present.  Displacement, bunching or plication may also be seen.
*Contrast radiography may be needed if ileus and obstruction cannot easily be distinguished.
+
*Contrast radiography may be needed if ileus and obstruction cannot easily be distinguished.  However, this may not always be feasible in an emergency situation.
  
 
====Ultrasonography====
 
====Ultrasonography====
Most of the time, this is a more sensitive technique in revealing the cause of the obstruction compared to radiography.  Dilation and thickening of the wall of the intestine may be visible.
+
Most of the time, this is a more sensitive technique in revealing the cause of the obstruction compared to radiography.  Dilation and thickening of the wall of the intestine may be revealed.
 
 
  
 
===Histopathology===
 
===Histopathology===
 
*Fine needle aspirate may be warranted before surgery if a mass is suspected, such as lymphoma.
 
*Fine needle aspirate may be warranted before surgery if a mass is suspected, such as lymphoma.
  
 +
==Treatment==
 +
===Stabilisation===
 +
Fluid balance, electrolyte and acid-base derangements are common in a vomiting animal.  These need to be addressed prior to anaesthesia. 
  
==Treatment==
+
===Antimicrbial===
===Electrolyte and acid-base derangements===
+
Broad spectrum antimicrobials, such as [[Penicillins|ampicillin]] or [[Cephalosporins|cephalosporin]] combined with [[Nitroimidazoles|metronidazole]], are usually given prophylactically prior to surgery.  This is vital if there are signs of sepsis or intestinal compromise.
*If present, these need to be corrected peior to anaesthesia.
 
  
 
===Surgery===
 
===Surgery===
*
+
Once stabilised, the animal can be taken to surgery.  Removal or resection of the obstruction is required.
  
  
 
==Prognosis==
 
==Prognosis==
 
+
This depends on type and severity of obstruction.  A simple obstruction with no signs of septic peritonitis has a good prognosis.  The prognosis is better in cases where there is no large resection of the intestines.  On the other hand, the prognosis is grave if there are signs of [[Neoplasia - Pathology #The Process of Metastasis|metastatic]] neoplasia.
 
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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*Hall, E.J, Simpson, J.W. and Williams, D.A. (2005) '''BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd Edition)''' ''BSAVA''
 
*Hall, E.J, Simpson, J.W. and Williams, D.A. (2005) '''BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd Edition)''' ''BSAVA''
 
*Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) '''Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition)''' ''Mosby Elsevier''.
 
*Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) '''Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition)''' ''Mosby Elsevier''.
`
+
 
 +
{{Learning
 +
|Vetstream = [https://www.vetstream.com/canis/Content/Disease/dis00649.asp, Intestinal obstruction]<br>
 +
[https://www.vetstream.com/canis/Content/Disease/dis00650.asp, Linear foreign body]<br>[https://www.vetstream.com/canis/Content/Illustration/ill00394.asp, Linear foreign body - radiograph]<br>[https://www.vetstream.com/canis/Content/Disease/dis00652.asp, Intestinal strangulation]<br>[https://www.vetstream.com/canis/Content/Illustration/ill00389, Chronic partial obstruction - radiograph]
 +
|powerpoints = [[E-Lecture:Intestinal Obstructions]]
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Intestine_-_Mechanical_Obstruction]]
 +
[[Category:To_Do_-_Clinical]]
 +
[[Category:Intestinal Diseases - Dog]][[Category:Intestinal Diseases - Cat]]

Latest revision as of 23:03, 9 September 2015

Signalment

  • No breed predisposition
  • No sex predilection

Description

Intestinal obstruction can be classified as acute or chronic, partial or complete, simple or incarcerated. The cause of the obstruction can be intraluminal, extraluminal or intramural. Most common causes of intestinal obstruction include intussusception, neoplasia and foreign body. Intussusception is more likely in young animals with a history of gastroenteritis or intestinal surgery. Cats frequently present with linear foreign bodies. Other less common causes include intestinal torsion/volvulus and incarcerated intestinal obstruction. Neoplasia is more commonly present in middle-aged to older animals.

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

The clinical presentation depends on the cause, severity, and the site of obstruction. Upper small intestinal obstruction causes a net fluid secretion whereas lower small intestinal obstruction causes a net fluid resorption. Antibiotic responsive diarrhoea is more likely to occur in distal small intestinal obstruction.

Simple obstruction

  • Vomiting; the further the obstruction is towards the mouth, the frequency and the volume is higher
  • Moribund or in septic shock; in cases where part of the intestine becomes devitalised, resulting in septic peritonitis
  • Abdominal foreign body, mass or obstructive ileus may be palpable

Incarcerated intestinal obstruction

Intestinal torsion/volvulus

Acute and severe onset of:

  • nausea
  • retching
  • vomiting ± bloody diarrhoea
  • acute abdomen
  • abdominal fluid accumulation
  • depression

Linear foreign body

  • Vomiting; food, bile and/or phlegm
  • Anorexia, depression

Laboratory Tests

Haematology

  • Mild dehydration to septic shock

Biochemistry

  • Hypochloraemia and hypokalaemia acid-base derangement is common in animals with intestinal obstruction.
  • Metabolic alkalosis ± aciduria may occur with upper duodenal obstruction.

Diagnostic Imaging

Radiography

  • Plain abdominal radiography may be all that is needed to reveal the cause of the obstruction. Gas and fluid accumulation may be visible due to intestinal dilation. Decreased serosal detail indicates peritoneal fluid accumulation and free gas in the abdomen suggests perforated intestines. Gravel sign due to food particle accumulation may be present. Displacement, bunching or plication may also be seen.
  • Contrast radiography may be needed if ileus and obstruction cannot easily be distinguished. However, this may not always be feasible in an emergency situation.

Ultrasonography

Most of the time, this is a more sensitive technique in revealing the cause of the obstruction compared to radiography. Dilation and thickening of the wall of the intestine may be revealed.

Histopathology

  • Fine needle aspirate may be warranted before surgery if a mass is suspected, such as lymphoma.

Treatment

Stabilisation

Fluid balance, electrolyte and acid-base derangements are common in a vomiting animal. These need to be addressed prior to anaesthesia.

Antimicrbial

Broad spectrum antimicrobials, such as ampicillin or cephalosporin combined with metronidazole, are usually given prophylactically prior to surgery. This is vital if there are signs of sepsis or intestinal compromise.

Surgery

Once stabilised, the animal can be taken to surgery. Removal or resection of the obstruction is required.


Prognosis

This depends on type and severity of obstruction. A simple obstruction with no signs of septic peritonitis has a good prognosis. The prognosis is better in cases where there is no large resection of the intestines. On the other hand, the prognosis is grave if there are signs of metastatic neoplasia.

References

  • Ettinger, S.J. and Feldman, E. C. (2000) Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine Diseases of the Dog and Cat Volume 2 (Fifth Edition) W.B. Saunders Company.
  • Hall, E.J, Simpson, J.W. and Williams, D.A. (2005) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd Edition) BSAVA
  • Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition) Mosby Elsevier.


Intestinal Obstruction Learning Resources
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E-Lecture:Intestinal Obstructions