- A common condition.
- Occurs following trauma or abdominal surgery.
- Stasis of gut flow due to failure of peristalsis.
- Leads to distension with gas and fluid, as well as a flaccid intestinal wall.
Causes
- Anything which stops peristalsis, e.g.
- Damage to nerve supply to intestine (autonomic nervous system)
- Pain
- Abnormal metabolism
- Toxaemia
- Electrolyte imbalance such as hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia, and hypokalaemia.
- Also in
- Diabetes mellitus
- Uraemia
- Tetanus
- Lead poisoning.
Pathology
- loss of smooth muscle tone leads to a flaccid bowel.
- Bowel is distended with fluid.
Pathogenesis
- Intestine susceptible to neurogenic damage during an operation.
- Peristalsis fades away over a few days producing paralytic (adynamic) ileus.
- Particularly occurs if bowel handled roughly, or if serosa gets cold and dry at surgery.
- Very difficult to start peristalsis again but will sometimes respond to pharmacological or electrical stimulation.
- The horse is very susceptible, and the dog is somewhat suscpeitble.