Intestinal Obstruction

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.

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

Simple obstruction

• Vomiting; the further the obstruction is towards the mouth, the more frequent the vomiting is
• Moribund or in septic shock; if part of the intestine becomes devitalised, resulting in septic peritonitis
• Abdominal foreign body, mass or obstructive ileus may be palpable

Diagnostic Imaging

Radiography

• Plain abdominal radiography may be all that is needed to reveal the cause of the obstruction.
• Contrast radiography may be needed if ileus and obstruction cannot easily be distinguished.

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.

Histopathology

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

Treatment

Electrolyte and acid-base derangements

• If present, these need to be corrected peior to anaesthesia.

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.

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