[Examination of horses with acute colic – clinical pathology and diagnostic imaging].

The research article summarizes methods for evaluating horses experiencing acute colic, using blood and fluid tests and diagnostic imaging. The research highlights the importance of interpreting lab results in context with clinical findings and suggests abdominocentesis and ultrasonography as valuable tools for diagnosing the type and severity of colic.

Key Laboratory Tests

• The paper emphasizes a minimum lab test regime that consists of measuring the horse’s haematocrit (or packed cell volume), total protein, and lactate concentration in the blood. These tests provide an indication of the severity of dehydration, a common symptom associated with acute colic.
• For example, a haematocrit higher than 0.5 l/l points to severe dehydration. Also, a blood lactate concentration over 4 mmol/l indicates a guarded prognosis, signifying potential intestinal compromise due to colic.

Abdominocentesis Analysis

• Abdominocentesis, a procedure that extracts fluid from the abdomen, can provide useful information about the type and severity of colic and guide further treatment plans.
• Leukocyte count and protein and lactate concentrations in the fluid can offer useful insights about the patient’s condition.
• A reddish discolouration of peritoneal fluid could signify a strangulating obstruction, a serious complication.

Diagnostic Imaging

• Transcutaneous abdominal ultrasonography can give valuable insights into the cause and severity of colic in a relatively short time. It is simpler to use, making it suitable even for inexperienced examiners.
• Dilated small intestinal loops due to colic can often be visualized ultrasonographically before they can be palpated transrectally. The presence of free peritoneal fluid and dilated small intestine, examination of the intestinal wall and the extent of the gastric wall, provide valuable data for better management of the acute colic condition.
• In ponies and foals, abdominal radiography is an effective diagnostic imaging method, helping to visualize sand impactions, meconium impactions, or gastrointestinal atresia in neonates.