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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2007; 48(3); 289-291;

Identification of normal parameters for ultrasonographic examination of the equine large colon and cecum.

Abstract: Six healthy horses were examined by using transabdominal ultrasonography, as described (1-3), to evaluate activity and size of the large colon and cecum at various locations. Using size and number of sacculations, activity patterns and contractile frequency; significant differences that would allow ultrasonographic identification of dorsal versus ventral colons, if they were displaced, were not found. The cecum had significantly greater activity than the colon, and a trend was seen towards smaller sacculations in the cecum than in the large colon. Six chevaux en santé ont été examinés par échographie transabdominale tel que décrit (–3) afin d’évaluer l’activité et la grosseur du gros côlon et du caecum à diverses localisations. En utilisant la grosseur et le nombre des cellules coliques, le schéma d’activité et la fréquence des contractions, il n’a pas été possible de montrer de différences significatives qui auraient pu permettre l’identification par échographie du côlon dorsal et du côlon ventral, s’ils avaient été déplacés. Le caecum montrait une activité significativement plus grande que celle du côlon et une tendance à former des cellules plus petites que les cellules coliques. (Traduit par Docteur André Blouin)
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Publication Date: 2007-04-18 PubMed ID: 17436906PubMed Central: PMC1800949
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  • 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.

This study conducted ultrasonographic examinations on six healthy horses to better understand the functions and characteristics of the large colon and cecum, without finding significant differences that would allow the identification of dorsal versus ventral colons when displaced.

Understanding the Research

  • The research was conducted by employing transabdominal ultrasonographic examinations, a technique allowing researchers to study the horses’ internal organs by creating images using sound waves.
  • The purpose of this study was to scrutinize the characteristics of the large colon and cecum in horses, particularly regarding their size, segmentation, activity patterns, and the frequency of contractions.
  • The emphasis was on identifying noticeable differences that would assist in identifying displacement between the dorsal and ventral colons – the two segments of the large colon.

Key Findings of the Study

  • The research did not discover any significant differences that could help in identifying whether the dorsal colon or the ventral colon is displaced through ultrasonographic imaging.
  • Contrary to the colon, the cecum (a pouch that forms the beginning of the large intestine) showed significantly more activity. This finding implies that the cecum may play a more substantial role in digestive processes.
  • There was an observable trend towards the cecum having smaller sacculations (pouches formed due to normal segmentation of the colon) as compared to the large colon. However, the significance of this difference is not definitively explained in the study.

Implications of the Study

  • The results of this study inform us about the lack of ultrasonographic differentiation between the dislocated dorsal and ventral colon, indicating that alternative methods or further research might be needed for effectively diagnosing such conditions in horses.
  • The increased activity in the cecum, as compared to the colon, can help in further understanding of equine digestive processes and potentially provide insights for better equine health management.
  • The smaller sacculations observed in the cecum might suggest a specific role they play in digestion. Further investigation in this area could bring out definitive conclusions.

Cite This Article

APA
Hendrickson EH, Malone ED, Sage AM. (2007). Identification of normal parameters for ultrasonographic examination of the equine large colon and cecum. Can Vet J, 48(3), 289-291.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 3
Pages: 289-291

Researcher Affiliations

Hendrickson, Eli H S
  • Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, 225 Veterinary Medical Center, 1365 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA. elihendrickson@hotmail.com
Malone, Erin D
    Sage, Abby M

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Cecum / anatomy & histology
      • Cecum / diagnostic imaging
      • Colon / anatomy & histology
      • Colon / diagnostic imaging
      • Female
      • Gastrointestinal Motility / physiology
      • Horses
      • Peristalsis / physiology
      • Ultrasonography / veterinary

      References

      This article includes 12 references
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      Citations

      This article has been cited 6 times.
      1. 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
      2. Williams S, Cooper J, Freeman S. Evaluation of normal findings using a detailed and focused technique for transcutaneous abdominal ultrasonography in the horse. BMC Vet Res 2014;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S5.
        doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-S1-S5pubmed: 25238559google scholar: lookup
      3. Abraham M, Reef VB, Sweeney RW, Navas de Solís C. Gastrointestinal ultrasonography of normal Standardbred neonates and frequency of asymptomatic intussusceptions. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Sep-Oct;28(5):1580-6.
        doi: 10.1111/jvim.12413pubmed: 25103616google scholar: lookup
      4. Munsterman AS, Dias Moreira AS, Kottwitz J. Evaluation of the Effects of Detomidine on Equine Myoelectrical Activity Using Electrointestinography. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio) 2025 Mar-Apr;35(2):120-130.
        doi: 10.1111/vec.13464pubmed: 40254911google scholar: lookup
      5. Accorroni L, Bazzano M, Marchegiani A, Spaterna A, Laus F. Abdominal Ultrasonography in Healthy Female Standard Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 8;15(2).
        doi: 10.3390/ani15020129pubmed: 39858129google scholar: lookup
      6. Haardt H, Romero AE, Boysen SR, Tan JY. Comparison of transrectal and transabdominal transducers for use in fast localized abdominal sonography of horses presenting with colic. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1307938.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1307938pubmed: 38239746google scholar: lookup
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