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Ultrasonography of small intestinal obstructions: a contemporary approach
Author(s) -
Garcia D. A. A.,
Froes T. R.,
Vilani R. G. D. O. C.,
Guérios S. D.,
Obladen A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2011.01104.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ultrasonography , prospective cohort study , ultrasound , cats , clinical significance , predictive value , radiology , gastroenterology
O bjectives : To assess the accuracy of intestinal ultrasound for diagnosis of intestinal obstruction in dogs and cats. M ethods : 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. R esults : 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. C linical S ignificance : Ultrasonography is an excellent method for investigation of animals with gastrointestinal disorders, and is particularly useful for excluding obstructive processes.