title: Serial gastrointestinal ultrasonography following exploratory celiotomy in normal adult ponies.
abstract: The objective was to characterize ultrasonographic changes in bowel wall thickness, contractility, degree of distension, luminal contents, and peritoneal fluid associated with exploratory celiotomy in normal ponies. Gastrointestinal ultrasonographic examination was performed in 14 ponies on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after an exploratory celiotomy. Wall thickness, contractility, degree of distension, and luminal contents were recorded for the duodenum and jejunum. Stomach wall thickness and location, cecal wall thickness, and peritoneal fluid location and character were recorded. Peritoneal fluid was identified most frequently on day 1 (P = 0.0005). Duodenal wall thickness was significantly decreased on day 7 compared with days 1, 3, and 5 suggesting inflammatory thickening postoperatively (P = 0.005). Stomach wall thickness was decreased on day 1 compared with days 3, 5, and 7 (P = 0.03). All measurements, however, were within normal limits. Hypocontractile segments of jejunum were most frequently identified on day 1 (P = 0.02) and hypoechoic contents were identified most frequently in the jejunum on day 1 and the duodenum on day 3, suggesting mild functional ileus or enteritis in the early postoperative period. Our findings support that bowel handling during abdominal exploration causes minimal changes in bowel wall thickness, contractility, degree of distension, luminal contents, and peritoneal fluid. This study was performed in ponies without gastrointestinal disease and further studies are necessary in patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA. kirae@uga.edu
authors.forename: Kira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parente
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reef
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Southwood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004386:Duodenum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012016:Reference Values; D013270:Stomach / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*