Changes

==Signalment==

==Signalment==

Can affect any breed or sex.

*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 - WikiClinical|intussusception]], neoplasia and foreign body.  [[Intussusception - WikiClinical|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.

'''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.  [[Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Antibiotic Responsive Diarrhoea - WikiClinical|Antibiotic responsive diarrhoea]] is more likely to occur in distal small intestinal obstruction.  

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====

*[[Stomach and Abomasum Consequences of Gastric Disease - Pathology|Vomiting]]; the further the obstruction is towards the mouth, the frequency and the volume is higher

*[[Vomiting|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

*Moribund or in septic shock; in cases where part of the intestine becomes devitalised, resulting in septic peritonitis

*Abdominal foreign body, mass or obstructive [[Intestine Physical Disturbances - Pathology #Functional Obstruction|ileus]] may be palpable

*Abdominal foreign body, mass or obstructive ileus may be palpable

====Incarcerated intestinal obstruction====

====Incarcerated intestinal obstruction====

*Acute [[Stomach and Abomasum Consequences of Gastric Disease - Pathology|vomiting]]

*Acute [[Vomiting|vomiting]]

*Abdominal pain

*Abdominal pain

*Depression

*Depression

*[[Shock - Pathology #Endotoxic shock|Endotoxic shock]] with toxic mucous membranes and tachycardia

*[[Shock#Endotoxic shock|Endotoxic shock]] with toxic mucous membranes and tachycardia

====Intestinal torsion/volvulus====

====Intestinal torsion/volvulus====

*nausea

*nausea

*retching

*retching

*[[Stomach and Abomasum Consequences of Gastric Disease - Pathology|vomiting]] ± bloody diarrhoea

*[[Vomiting|vomiting]] ± bloody diarrhoea

*acute abdomen

*acute abdomen

*abdominal fluid accumulation

*abdominal fluid accumulation

====Linear foreign body====

====Linear foreign body====

*[[Stomach and Abomasum Consequences of Gastric Disease - Pathology|Vomiting]]; food, bile and/or phlegm

*[[Vomiting|Vomiting]]; food, bile and/or phlegm

*Anorexia, depression

*Anorexia, depression

===Laboratory Tests===

===Laboratory Tests===

*Hypochloraemia and hypokalaemia acid-base derangement is common in animals with intestinal obstruction.

*Hypochloraemia and hypokalaemia acid-base derangement is common in animals with intestinal obstruction.

*Metabolic alkalosis ± aciduria may occur with upper duodenal obstruction.

*Metabolic alkalosis ± aciduria may occur with upper duodenal obstruction.

===Diagnostic Imaging===

===Diagnostic Imaging===

====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 revealed.

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==

==Treatment==

==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.

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==

*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''.