VSR 421: Regional Veterinary Surgery (2+1)

INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION

• Incidence: Infrequent in ruminants but common in dogs and cats
• Causes:
• Mechanical obstruction may be
• Intra luminal
• Extra luminal 

Intra luminal

• Faecolith 
• Impacted ingesta 
• Foreign bodies 
• Parasitic infestation

Extra luminal

• Stenosis
• Adhesions
• Fibrous bands
• Hernia
• Abscess
• Neoplasms

Functional obstruction (Paralytic ileus)

• Trauma 
• Peritonitis 
• Heavy concentrate feeding
• Congenital defects - agenesis of colon, visceral eventration

Malformations of the intestine eg: Hypoplasia or atresia

•  Meckel’s diverticulum –
•  Miscellaneous – Mesenteric thrombosis

Clinical signs

• Incomplete obstruction: Pain in initial stages of obstruction, Cessation of defecation ,Anorexia, Distension of abdomen, Looking towards site of pain (colic symptoms), Kicking at the abdomen, Frequent standing and lying down, Increased pulse rate (depend upon duration of obstruction and involvement of blood vessels), Faeces is scanty with blood and thick mucus Hypovolemia, Endotoxaemia (in strangulated obstruction) cause cardio vascular embed assemt and depression. Deterioration of general condition

Diagnosis

• History, clinical signs, rectal examination, laboratory findings, complete absence of defecation also seen in diaphragmatic hernia (radiography will help in diagnosis )

Treatment

• General lines - includes Right flank laporotomy Removal of obstruction
• Intraluminal mass – enterotomy
• If intestinal segment is damaged – enterectomy and anastomosis