Application of pulsed Doppler ultrasound for the evaluation of small intestinal motility in dogs

J Vet Sci. 2001 Apr;2(1):71-4.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to verify whether small intestinal peristalsis could be observed and quantitatively assessed using pulsed-Doppler ultrasound. Pulsed-Doppler ultrasound was used to evaluate small intestinal peristalsis after a meal in ten normal dogs and ten sedated dogs. The small intestinal peristalses were measured 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours after a 24-hour fast and after feeding. The number of small intestinal peristalsis were 0.133/min, 0.100/min, 0.033/min, 0.167/min, 0.070/min, 0.067/min, and 0.100/min in the fasted dogs, and 1.667/ min, 0.933/min, 1.133/min, 1.234/min, 1.933/min, 1.533/ min, and 0.533/min in fed dogs, respectively. In the dogs sedated with xylazine HCl, the number of small intestinal peristalsis was significantly reduced (p<0.01). However, in the dogs treated with ketamine HCl and acepromazine, the number of small intestinal peristalsis remained unchanged. Therefore, it can be concluded that pulsed-Doppler ultrasound allows graphic visualization of the intestinal movements, which can be subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis, and may be suitable for a non-invasive study of small intestinal motility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acepromazine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Dogs
  • Dopamine Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Gastrointestinal Motility* / drug effects
  • Intestine, Small / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestine, Small / drug effects
  • Intestine, Small / physiology*
  • Ketamine / pharmacology
  • Peristalsis / drug effects
  • Peristalsis / physiology*
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed / methods
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed / veterinary*

Substances

  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Acepromazine
  • Ketamine