Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ultrasound accuracy for diagnosing small intestinal blockage in dogs
By Garcia, D A A et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2011·Department of Veterinary Medicine, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ultrasonography of small intestinal obstructions: a contemporary approach.
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs and cats showing signs of possible intestinal blockage underwent ultrasound to check for obstructions. Out of 92 pets, 21 were found to have an obstruction, while 68 did not. The ultrasound was highly accurate, correctly identifying obstructions and ruling them out in other cases. This method is very effective for diagnosing gastrointestinal issues and is especially good at confirming whether an obstruction is present or not.
People also search for: dog vomiting intestinal obstruction · cat ultrasound for blockage · signs of gastrointestinal obstruction in pets
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the accuracy of intestinal ultrasound for diagnosis of intestinal obstruction in dogs and cats. METHODS: A prospective clinical study was performed. Inclusion criteria were dogs and cats with clinical signs suggestive of gastrointestinal obstruction. Animals with no obstruction detected on ultrasound were excluded if they could not be monitored for 48 hours to confirm absence of obstruction. Sonographic diagnosis of small intestinal obstruction was based on identification of at least two findings suggestive of intestinal obstruction. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients suspected of having intestinal obstruction were included. Correct diagnosis of intestinal obstruction was made in 21 cases (23%), and in 68 (74%) this diagnosis was excluded. Interpretation of the images on prospective analysis had sensitivity, positive predictive, specificity and negative predictive values of 100%, 87.5%, 95.8% and 100%, respectively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Ultrasonography is an excellent method for investigation of animals with gastrointestinal disorders, and is particularly useful for excluding obstructive processes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21896023/