SAEVA Congress 2018 Proceedings | 12-15 February 2018 | ATKV Goudini Spa
Intussusceptions
Intussusceptions have a characteristic target or bull’s eye sign in the affected portion of
intestine. There are many different possible sonographic appearances for the
intussusception, depending upon which portion of the intussusception is being imaged.
Often fibrin is imaged between the 2 loops of affected intestine.
Ileal-ileal intussusception
In yearlings and young horses, ileal intussusceptions are more common and may be
imaged rectally or transcutaneously. Intussusceptions in adult horses usually involve
the ileum and/ or large bowel. The majority of intussusceptions imaged in adult horses
are imaged from the right side of the abdomen because the cecum or right ventral
colon is involved.
Cecocecal intussusception
Strangulating small intestinal lesions
Distended, fluid-filled small intestine is usually imaged proximal to a strangulated
portion of small intestine. The strangulated small intestine usually has thickened,
edematous, hypoechoic walls with little or no peristaltic activity. Two populations of
small intestine, one collapsed with some motility and normal wall thickness and the
other with a thickened wall, turgid appearance and little or no motility is consistent with
a strangulating lesion. In older horses, a strangulating lipoma is likely although the
lipoma itself is rarely imaged. Complete volvulus of the small intestine may also occur,
similarly affecting the entire small intestine. Distended small intestine with thickened
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