Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cholelith causing duodenal obstruction in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1992
- Authors:
- Laverty, S et al.
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old Appaloosa stallion was taken to the vet because he was experiencing colic, which is a type of abdominal pain. When he arrived, his heart rate and breathing were elevated, and he had a high temperature. The vet found a large mass in his abdomen that was causing pain, and during surgery, the small intestine burst at the blockage site. Unfortunately, the horse was euthanized because the obstruction was caused by a large gallstone, and further examination revealed multiple gallstones in other parts of his digestive system.
Abstract
A 10-year-old Appaloosa stallion was referred for evaluation of colic. At admission, the heart rate, capillary refill time, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were high. Fifteen liters of reflux was obtained by nasogastric intubation. Palpation of an abdominal mass per rectum elicited signs of pain. At exploratory laparotomy, a mass was palpated in the ascending portion of the duodenum. The small intestine ruptured at the site of obstruction during manipulation. The horse was euthanatized. A large cholelith was the cause of the duodenal obstruction. At necropsy, multiple choleliths of various sizes were found in the pancreatic and common bile ducts and in the stomach.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1399780/