Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How accurate is ultrasound for finding dog stomach blockages
By Toth, Darby D et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2026·Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonographic evaluation prior to laparoscopic-assisted gastrointestinal foreign body removal in 30 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 30 dogs with suspected gastrointestinal blockages underwent abdominal ultrasound to identify the type and location of foreign bodies in their intestines before surgery. The ultrasound was quite accurate, correctly identifying the type and shape of the foreign bodies most of the time. When the dogs had laparoscopic surgery to remove the blockages, it was successful in just over half of the cases, especially for non-linear foreign bodies. However, the surgery was not successful for those located in a specific area of the intestine. Overall, the ultrasound helped vets decide which dogs were suitable for surgery.
People also search for: dog foreign body surgery · ultrasound for dog intestinal blockage · laparoscopic surgery success rate dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the ability of abdominal ultrasound (AUS) to correctly identify gastrointestinal foreign body (GIFB) type, location, size and shape; and to determine the success rate of laparoscopic-assisted GIFB removal with GIFB of various characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs (30) that underwent laparoscopic-assisted intestinal surgery (LAIS). METHODS: Dogs with GIFB obstruction underwent an AUS performed by a boarded radiologist. GIFB type, location within the gastrointestinal tract, size, and shape were recorded, as well as the presence or absence of peritoneal fluid, pneumoperitoneum, or mural changes. LAIS was attempted in all dogs. Surgical findings were compared to ultrasound findings. RESULTS: AUS was able to correctly determine the type, location, and shape of GIFB 96.8%, 77.42%, and 93.5% of the time, respectively. AUS had moderate accuracy (80%), at identifying adhesions, and underestimated GIFB size. LAIS was successful in 16/30 (53.3%) of cases, including 2/7 (28.6%) linear, 14/23 (60.9%) non-linear, and 1/1 (100%) gastric foreign bodies, but was not successful for GIFB near the caudal duodenal flexure (0/2, 0%). CONCLUSION: Preoperative AUS was accurate in determining the type, location, and shape of GIFB. Specific linear foreign bodies were amenable to laparoscopic-assisted removal. GIFB located at the caudal duodenal flexure were not successfully removed by LAIS. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Preoperative AUS is a useful diagnostic to aid in determining the suitability of a dog to undergo LAIS.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41150051/