Changes

==Clinical signs==

==Clinical signs==

The presentation of this condition is similar to that of other strangulating lesions such as small intestinal volvulus. Horses with epiploic foramen entrapment frequently exhibit acute onset and severe abdominal pain that is usually non-responsive to analgesia. This is often characterised by clinical signs including rolling, pawing at the ground, flank watching and kicking at the abdomen. Other clinical signs may include tachycardia, tachypnoea, reduced borborygmi. Signs of endotoxaemia may be present including prolonged capillary refill time and congested mucous membranes. A rare feature of the condition is sudden death due to rupture of the portal vein and subsequent haemorrhage.

The presentation of this condition is similar to that of other strangulating lesions such as small intestinal volvulus. Horses with epiploic foramen entrapment frequently exhibit acute onset and severe abdominal pain that is usually non-responsive to analgesia. This is often characterised by clinical signs including rolling, pawing at the ground, flank watching and kicking at the abdomen. Other clinical signs may include tachycardia, tachypnoea and reduced borborygmi. If endotoxaemia has occurred other clinical features may include a prolonged capillary refill time and congested mucous membranes. A rare feature of the condition is sudden death due to rupture of the portal vein and subsequent haemorrhage.

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

Definitive diagnosis of epiploic foramen entrapment may not be straightforward and is often made at surgery. Rectal palpation is often unrewarding due to the anterior position of the lesion but a marked pain response to traction of the caudal caecal band distended coils of small intestine are features that may distinguish epiploic entrapment from other conditions.  

Definitive diagnosis of epiploic foramen entrapment may not be straightforward and is usually made at surgery. Rectal palpation is often unrewarding due to the anterior position of the lesion but a marked pain response to traction of the caudal caecal band distended coils of small intestine are features that may distinguish epiploic entrapment from other conditions.  

Nasogastric reflux is frequently present but may not lead to pain relief.  Transabdominal ultrasonography may reveal distended, hypomotile small intestine. Small intestine identified in the right dorsal quadrant of the abdomen is highly suggestive of the disease. Abdominocentesis is often useful to determine the degree of strangulation and peritoneal fluid may be serosanguineous with an increased lactate, total protein and leukocyte count. If the herniation occurs from right to left however, the tranudation enters the omental bursa and may not be collected by abdominocentesis. See also <big>'''[[:Category:Colic Diagnosis in the Horse|Colic Diagnosis in Horses]]

Nasogastric reflux is frequently present but may not lead to pain relief.  Transabdominal ultrasonography may reveal distended, hypomotile small intestine. Small intestine identified in the right dorsal quadrant of the abdomen is highly suggestive of the disease. Abdominocentesis is often useful to determine the degree of strangulation and peritoneal fluid may be serosanguineous with an increased lactate, total protein and leukocyte count. If the herniation occurs from right to left however, the tranudation enters the omental bursa and may not be collected by abdominocentesis. See also <big>'''[[:Category:Colic Diagnosis in the Horse|Colic Diagnosis in Horses]]