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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / Evaluation of gastrointestinal activity patterns in healthy ...
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2005; 46(2); 134-140;

Evaluation of gastrointestinal activity patterns in healthy horses using B mode and Doppler ultrasonography.

Abstract: Healthy adult horses were examined by using transabdominal ultrasonography to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate activity of the jejunum, cecum, and colon with B mode and Doppler techniques. Doppler ultrasound was used to assess jejunal peristaltic activity. Examinations were performed on multiple occasions under imposed colic evaluation conditions, including fasting, nasogastric intubation, and xylazine sedation. In fasted horses, jejunal visibility was increased and jejunal, cecal, and colonic activity was decreased. The stomach was displaced ventrally and was visualized ventral to the costochondral junction. Xylazine sedation in fed horses had minimal effects; however, in fasted horses, xylazine significantly decreased jejunal and cecal activity. Nasogastric intubation in fasted horses had no observable effects on activity, but moved the stomach dorsally. B mode and Doppler jejunal activity were strongly correlated. Prior feeding and sedation status need to be considered when interpreting the results of equine abdominal ultrasound examinations. Doppler techniques may be useful for assessing jejunal activity. Résumé — Évaluation des modèles d’activité gastro-intestinale chez des chevaux sains par échographie en modes B et Doppler. Des chevaux adultes en santé ont été examinés par échographie transabdominale en modes B et Doppler afin d’évaluer quantitativement et qualitativement l’activité du jéjunum, du caecum et du côlon. Les ultrasons Doppler ont été utilisés pour évaluer l’activité péristaltique du jéjunum. Les examens ont été effectués à plusieurs reprises dans des conditions requises pour l’évaluation des coliques, dont le jeûne, l’intubation naso-gastrique et la sédation à la xylazine. Chez les chevaux à jeun, la visibilité du jéjunum était augmentée et l’activité du jéjunum, du caecum et du côlon était diminuée. L’estomac était déplacé ventralement et était visualisé ventralement à la jonction costo-chondrale. La sédation à la xylazine chez les chevaux nourris avait peu d’effets alors que chez les chevaux à jeun, la xylaxine diminuait significativement l’activité du jéjunum et du caecum. L’intubation naso-gastrique chez les chevaux à jeun n’avait pas d’effets observables sur l’activité mais déplaçait l’estomac dorsalement. Le mode B et l’activité du jejunum en Doppler étaient fortement en corrélation. La prise de nourriture et l’état de sédation doivent être pris en considération lors de l’interprétation des résultats des examens échographiques de l’abdomen chez le cheval. Les techniques Doppler peuvent être utiles pour évaluer l’activité du jéjunum. (Traduit par Docteur André Blouin)
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Publication Date: 2005-04-14 PubMed ID: 15825515PubMed Central: PMC1082861
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  • Evaluation Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study evaluates the gastrointestinal activity patterns in healthy horses using B mode and Doppler ultrasonography, demonstrating the impacts of fasting, nasogastric intubation, and xylazine sedation on the horses’ gastrointestinal activities. Doppler techniques found to be effective in assessing jejunal activity.

Study Purpose and Methodology

  • The study intends to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze the activities of jejunum, cecum, and colon in healthy adult horses by applying transabdominal ultrasonography using B mode and Doppler techniques.
  • The Doppler ultrasound technique is specifically employed to assess the peristaltic activity of the jejunum.
  • The evaluations are executed multiple times under prescribed colic evaluation situations that include fasting, nasogastric intubation, and xylazine sedation.

Findings and Implications

  • When horses fasted, there was an increase in the visibility of the jejunum and a decrease in the jejunal, cecal, and colonic activities. This fasting also caused stomach displacement ventrally, visualizable ventral to the costochondral junction.
  • The impact of xylazine sedation differed between fed and fasted horses. While it had minimal effects on fed horses, there was a substantial decrease in jejunal and cecal activity in fasted horses.
  • Nasogastric intubation did not noticeably affect the activity in fasted horses but caused the stomach to move dorsally.
  • There was a strong correlation found between B mode and Doppler jejunal activity, indicating that Doppler techniques could be crucial for evaluating the jejunal activity.
  • The researchers concluded that factors such as prior feeding and sedation status must be taken into account while interpreting equine abdominal ultrasound exam results.

Significance of the Study

  • This study contributes valuable data concerning how different conditions affect the gastrointestinal activities of horses.
  • This information can improve the interpretation of equine abdominal ultrasound examinations, potentially leading to enhanced diagnostic accuracy and patient care in veterinary medicine.

Cite This Article

APA
Mitchell CF, Malone ED, Sage AM, Niksich K. (2005). Evaluation of gastrointestinal activity patterns in healthy horses using B mode and Doppler ultrasonography. Can Vet J, 46(2), 134-140.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 46
Issue: 2
Pages: 134-140

Researcher Affiliations

Mitchell, Colin F
  • Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, 225 Veterinary Medical Center, 1365 Gortner Avenue, St Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA. mitch092@umn.edu
Malone, Erin D
    Sage, Abby M
      Niksich, Katie

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Cecum / diagnostic imaging
        • Cecum / physiology
        • Colon / diagnostic imaging
        • Colon / physiology
        • Female
        • Gastrointestinal Motility / physiology
        • Gastrointestinal Tract / diagnostic imaging
        • Gastrointestinal Tract / physiology
        • Horses / physiology
        • Jejunum / diagnostic imaging
        • Jejunum / physiology
        • Male
        • Peristalsis / physiology
        • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / methods
        • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / veterinary

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 6 times.
        1. Epstein KL, Hall MD. Effect of Nasogastric Tube Placement, Manipulation, and Fluid Administration on Transcutaneous Ultrasound Visualization and Assessment of Stomach Position in Healthy Unfed and Fed Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 6;12(23).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12233433pubmed: 36496953google scholar: lookup
        2. Ekstrand C, Michanek P, Gehring R, Sundell A, Källse A, Hedeland M, Ström L. Plasma atropine concentrations associated with decreased intestinal motility in horses. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:951300.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.951300pubmed: 36118347google scholar: lookup
        3. Beder NA, Mourad AA, Aly MA. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the effects of the administration of neostigmine and metoclopramide on duodenal, cecal, and colonic contractility in Arabian horses: A comparative study. Vet World 2020 Nov;13(11):2447-2451.
          doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.2447-2451pubmed: 33363340google scholar: lookup
        4. Siwinska N, Zak A, Baron M, Cylna M, Borowicz H. Right dorsal colon ultrasonography in normal adult ponies and miniature horses. PLoS One 2017;12(10):e0186825.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186825pubmed: 29065146google scholar: lookup
        5. Laus F, Fratini M, Paggi E, Faillace V, Spaterna A, Tesei B, Fettucciari K, Bassotti G. Effects of Single-Dose Prucalopride on Intestinal Hypomotility in Horses: Preliminary Observations. Sci Rep 2017 Jan 27;7:41526.
          doi: 10.1038/srep41526pubmed: 28128322google scholar: lookup
        6. Maldonado Moreno N, Alves Moreira J, Araujo De Oliveira L, Sanches Gontijo A, Castilho Baldi ML, Rocha Wenceslau R, Beier SL. Analgesic and Gastrointestinal Effects of Methadone in Horses Undergoing Orchiectomy. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 11;15(16).
          doi: 10.3390/ani15162358pubmed: 40867687google scholar: lookup
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