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.
Abstract: Abdominal organ displacement is a potentially life-threatening condition in horses. Primary care veterinarians commonly make referral decisions based on a combination of clinical and ultrasonographic findings. However, published studies describing the effects of transducer on identifying abdominal organ locations in horses are currently lacking. The objective of this prospective, methods comparison, pilot study was to compare organ identification using a high-frequency linear (transrectal) transducer and a low-frequency curvilinear (abdominal) transducer for transcutaneous abdominal ultrasonography of healthy horses. Twelve clinically normal adult horses owned by the University of Calgary were enrolled in the study. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed by four practitioners, each randomly assigned to an alternating rotation of transrectal or abdominal transducer and left or right side of a horse. Using a Chi square test or Fisher's exact test, the frequency of identification for each organ was compared between both transducers. There was no significant difference in organ identification on the right side of the abdomen. On the left side, the stomach, liver, and kidney were less likely to be detected with the transrectal transducer. Compared with a low-frequency abdominal transducer, a high-frequency linear transrectal transducer delivers images that allow for organ identification in transcutaneous ultrasonography of the equine abdomen except for the left kidney, left liver, and stomach.
© 2022 American College of Veterinary Radiology.
Publication Date: 2022-01-20 PubMed ID: 35048458DOI: 10.1111/vru.13060Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Veterinary
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 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.
Cite This Article
APA
Haardt H, Romero AE, Boysen SR, Lohnherr A, Tan JY.
(2022).
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.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 63(3), 345-352.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13060 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N1N4, Canada.
- Moore Equine Veterinary Centre, 260048A Writing Creek Crescent, Rocky View County, Alberta, T4A0M9, Canada.
- Department of Large Animal Surgery, Anaesthesia and Orthopaedics, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N1N4, Canada.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N1N4, Canada.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N1N4, Canada.
- Moore Equine Veterinary Centre, 260048A Writing Creek Crescent, Rocky View County, Alberta, T4A0M9, Canada.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N1N4, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Abdomen / diagnostic imaging
- Animals
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Incidence
- Pilot Projects
- Prospective Studies
- Transducers
- Ultrasonography / methods
- Ultrasonography / veterinary
Grant Funding
- University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Internship Fund
References
This article includes 16 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- 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.
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