SummaryReason for performing study: Abdominal ultrasonography has become a part of the diagnostic investigation for the acute abdomen in many equine clinics. There is limited information on the correlation between abnormalities detected on abdominal ultrasonography and the specific category of small intestine (SI) and large intestine (LI) diseases. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between abdominal ultrasonographic findings and disease categories that cause abdominal pain requiring surgery. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for horses undergoing surgery or post mortem examination for colic. The ultrasound examination was performed to assess free peritoneal fluid, the left kidney, stomach, appearance and motility of the duodenum, identification, appearance, motility and thickness of small intestine loops, and the appearance and motility of the colon. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify associations between disease categories and ultrasonographic findings; a Chi-squared test was used to test for associations between each variable and disease categories. Results: The study included 158 horses. Distended and nonmotile SI loops were associated with strangulated obstruction (n = 45); increased free peritoneal fluid, completely distended SI loops with abnormal motility and thickened loops were associated with definitive diagnosis involving SI (n = 58). Failure to visualise the left kidney was associated with renosplenic entrapment (n = 16); thickened large colon (LC) was associated with LC strangulating volvulus (n = 9). Conclusion: The use of abdominal ultrasonography can be used for the accurate definitive diagnosis involving SI and LI diseases. Potential relevance: This retrospective study may be used as a basis for prospective studies to assess the ultrasonographic findings in horses with medical colic and to compare these with surgical findings.

This study shows that arthroscopic examination of the APJs of equine cervical vertebra is feasible and can be performed in mature horses. Arthroscopy of the APJs may provide additional diagnostic information compared to conventional diagnostic techniques.

CASE DESCRIPTION 8 horses (5 geldings and 3 mares) were evaluated for laparoscopic closure of the nephrosplenic space following a history of recurrent left dorsal displacement of the large colon. CLINICAL FINDINGS All horses underwent a physical examination and routine clinicopathologic testing. Transrectal palpation and transabdominal ultrasonography were performed to exclude the presence of organs in the left paralumbar region. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME A left flank laparoscopic approach with the horses standing was used. A continuous suture was placed in a craniocaudal direction between the renal and splenic capsules with unidirectional barbed suture material. This allowed obliteration of the nephrosplenic space without the need for knots to secure the leading and terminal ends of the suture line. In all horses, transrectal palpation was performed 2 months after surgery; at this time, closure of the caudal part of the nephrosplenic space was evident. In 2 horses, follow-up laparoscopy was performed, and complete closure of the nephrosplenic space was confirmed. Telephone follow-up revealed that none of the horses had any signs of recurrent left dorsal displacement of the large colon. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that laparoscopic nephrosplenic space closure with unidirectional barbed suture material could be considered as an option for prevention of left dorsal displacement of the large colon in horses. In the horses of this report, barbed suture material allowed secure ablation of the nephrosplenic space and eliminated the need for intracorporeal knot tying.

Septic arthritis/tenosynovitis in the horse can have life-threatening consequences. The purpose of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to describe ultrasound characteristics of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis in a group of horses. Diagnosis of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis was based on historical and clinical findings as well as the results of the synovial fluid analysis and/or positive synovial culture. Ultrasonographic findings recorded were degree of joint/sheath effusion, degree of synovial membrane thickening, echogenicity of the synovial fluid, and presence of hyperechogenic spots and fibrinous loculations. Ultrasonographic findings were tested for dependence on the cause of sepsis, time between admission and beginning of clinical signs, and the white blood cell counts in the synovial fluid. Thirty-eight horses with confirmed septic arthritis/tenosynovitis of 43 joints/sheaths were included. Degree of effusion was marked in 81.4% of cases, mild in 16.3%, and absent in 2.3%. Synovial thickening was mild in 30.9% of cases and moderate/severe in 69.1%. Synovial fluid was anechogenic in 45.2% of cases and echogenic in 54.8%. Hyperechogenic spots were identified in 32.5% of structures and fibrinous loculations in 64.3%. Relationships between the degree of synovial effusion, degree of the synovial thickening, presence of fibrinous loculations, and the time between admission and beginning of clinical signs were identified, as well as between the presence of fibrinous loculations and the cause of sepsis (P ≤ 0.05). Findings indicated that ultrasonographic findings of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis may vary in horses, and may be influenced by time between admission and beginning of clinical signs.

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