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11

Is there intestinal dehiscence?

Abdominal cavity Jun 22, 2018 By Dominique Penninck PREMIUM
PREMIUM. This exercise is one of the 39 in the archive.
1 · The case

This video is part of the paid library.

It is included in Small Animal Ultrasonography PREMIUM (2 years).

One week ago, Coco, a 3 year old mixed dog breed, had surgery for a foreign body at a referral clinic. He was doing well but now his appetite has decreased and he is a bit lethargic. An ultrasound was performed to rule out dehiscence...what do you think?

To read the answer,

Discussion (6)

Anne-Marth

The fat around the small intestine is hyperechoic ( focal peritonitis after surgery) and the is ileus present in the large intestines

Jacquie Pankatz

A challenging one but I will take a crack at it. I see a moderately dilated loop of small intestine with some echogenic liquid digesta. I think I can see the suture line as the bowel is followed caudally and the digesta flows freely through this region to the other side. There is some localized free fluid in the region and some gas reverberation which is suspicious for peritonitis but it is not severe and I would expect some gas pockets from laparotomy. I also think the fat should be more inflamed with dehiscence. The fluid would be a challenge to tap. The pancreas is hypoechoic and the surrounding fat is hyperechoic with trace effusion. I would be more suspicious of post-op pancreatitis than dehiscence in this case.

Joanna Flores

Hi. It looks like a duodenum because it is adjacent to the pancreas. Duodenum presents liquid content and increased peristalsis. Adjacent to the mesenteric wall and in the mesenteric wall, hyperechoic stitches are seen. Which can be gas bubbles and stitches respectively. You do not see free fluid but a slight peritoneal reaction.
I'm not sure if there is dehicencia. I would recommend ultrasound control in 24 hours.

Estefania

hyerechoic sorrounding fat suggesting peritonitis , and a small amount of free fluid , the pancreas seems hypoechoic, and also some luminal hyperechoic content in the mucosa wall i think its positive for ulcer or deshiscence. and reactive pancreatitis or peritonitis.

ERNESTO ARTARAZ MIÑON

i think that close to the wall of the small intestine you have a hiperechoic reaction with focal peritonitis, and the wall of duodenum has lost the normal architecture. There is also ileus.

Dominique Author

Actually, this should read duodenectomy! Sorry for the error...the surgical site was circumferential.