Incidence of superficial abdominal organ identification is similar using high-frequency linear (transrectal) and low-frequency curvilinear (abdominal) transducers in clinically healthy horses: A pilot study.

The study investigates the effectiveness of two ultrasound transducers, high-frequency linear (transrectal) and low-frequency curvilinear (abdominal), in identifying the position of abdominal organs in horses. The research shows that there is not a significant difference in the capacity of the two transducers to locate organs on the right side of a horse’s abdomen, but on the left side, the stomach, liver, and kidney were less likely to be identified using the high-frequency linear (transrectal) instrument.

Research Purpose

• The main objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of two different types of ultrasound transducers (high-frequency linear and low-frequency curvilinear) in mapping the position of abdominal organs in horses. This is seen as crucial because displacement of equine abdominal organs can be life-threatening and swift identification aids prognosis and treatment.

Research Methodology

• Twelve adult horses, who were clinically healthy and owned by the University of Calgary, were enrolled in this pilot study. The experiment was prospective and employed a methods comparison approach.
• Four practitioners, each assigned alternately to the use of either the high-frequency linear (transrectal) or low-frequency curvilinear (abdominal) transducer, performed abdominal ultrasonography on the horses. Each practitioner also alternated between the left and right side of each horse.

Findings

• Organ identification was compared for each transducer. Statistical analysis using Chi square or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the frequency of identification for each organ by each transducer.
• The study found that there was no significant disparity in the identification of organs on the right side of the horse’s abdomen, regardless of the transducer used. However, on the left side, the stomach, liver, and kidney were less reliably detected when the high-frequency linear transrectal transducer was used.
• It was concluded that, except for the left kidney, left liver, and stomach, a high-frequency linear transrectal transducer provides images that allow for organ identification in the equine abdomen comparable to those given by a low-frequency curvilinear (abdominal) transducer.