The Incidence and Distribution of Intestinal Foreign Bodies in Dogs

U svakodnevnoj praksi malih životinja jedna od prvih diferencijalnih dijagnoza kod pojave probavnih poremećaja su strana tijela u gastrointestinalnom sustavu. Najčešći klinički znakovi su povraćanje, anoreksija, dehidracija, proljev, abdominalna bol i depresija. Ileus ili opstrukcija crijeva predstavlja nemogućnost prolaska sadržaja kroz lumen crijeva. Ovisno o stupnju okluzije lumena crijeva razlikujemo potpunu i parcijalnu opstrukcija. Prema obliku razikujemo linearna i nelinearna strana tijela. Linearna strana tijela najčešće uzrokuju parcijalnu opstrukciju koja vremenom postaje kronični problem što može rezultirati ozbiljnim oštećenjem stijenke crijeva. Nelinearna strana tijela uz parcijalnu, često uzrokuju i potpunu opstrukciju ovisno o svojoj veličini. Prva metoda dijagnostike je rendgenološka pretraga iako neke studije pokazuju kako je transabdominalna ultrazvučna pretraga pouzdanija. Najbolje je kombinirati obje metode, kako bi se što sigurnije postavila dijagnoza. Pregledom arhive klinika Veterinarskog fakulteta u razdoblju od 5 godina, pronađeno je ukupno 90 pasa s dijagnozom stranog tijela u crijevima. Prikazana je učestalost i distribucija stranih tijela u crijevima obzirom na spol, dob, pasminu, vrstu stranog tijela, metodu dijagnostike, vrstu opstrukcije, mjesto opstrukcije te liječenje i ishod liječenja. Najčešće se radi o psima srednje dobi oko 4 godine starosti, križanih pasmina. Od čistokrvnih pasa, najviše je labrador retrivera, zlatnih retrivera, američkih stafordskih terijera, zapadnoškotskih terijera itd. Psi najčešće progutaju samo jedno strano tijelo, a tijela nelinearnog oblika su češća od linearnih. U promatranoj skupini gotovo je jednaka učestalost stranih tijela koja uzrokuju potpunu i parcijalnu opstrukciju. Najčešće se dijagnostika stranih tijela u crijevima postavlja rendgenskim snimanjem, a ultrazvučna metoda služi kao potvrdna metoda dijagnostike. Strana tijela najčešće zastanu u tankom crijevu i to u njegovom srednjem segmentu, odnosno jejunumu. Potpuna opstrukcija crijeva gotovo uvijek zahtjeva operativno liječenje, dok strana tijela koja ne izazivaju znakove opstrukcije najčešće izađu spontano iz tijela pasa. Od operativnih zahvata, najviše se je obavljenih enterotomija, dok se resekcija i anastomoza crijeva rjeđe prakticiraju.Gastrointestinal foreign bodies are commonly encountered in veterinary practice and may present with a variety of clinical gastrointestinal signs. The most common clinical signs are vomiting, anorexia, dehidration, diarrha, abdominal pain and depression. Ileus or intestinal obstruction is inability of intestinal content to pass trough its lumen. There are two types of intestinal obstruction depending od degree of intestinal lumen occlusion – complete and partial obstruction. Based on the shape of the foreign bodies there are two types - linear and non-linear foreign bodies. Linear foreign bodies most commonly cause partial obstruction that can, with time, turn into a chronic problem. The latter can result in intestinal wall destruction. Non-linear foreign bodies, depending on their size, can cause partial or complete intestinal obstruction. The first diagnostic method used is the X -ray, althrough some studies showed that the transabdominal ultrasound can be used as the method of choice. For the most accurate diagnosis, it is the best to combine both methods. Searching through the archives of the Veterinary Faculty Clinics in a 5 years period, we found 90 dogs with the diagnosis of foreign intestinal body. In this research we showed the frequency and distribution of foreign intestinal bodies based by sex, age, breed, the type of foreign body, diagnostical method, obstruction type, obstruction site, treatment and outcome. Results of our research show that intestinal foreign bodies were most commonly found in the group of dogs around 4 years old that were mongrels. In the group of popular breeds, the most common were Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, American Staffordshire Terrier, West Higland White Terrier etc. The results we found also show that there was most commonly only one foreign body in the intestine, and non-linear bodies were more often than linear. The most common method for diagnosing foreign intestinal bodys is the X - ray, while the ultrasound is used only as a method of conformation. Most common site where foreign bodies are found is the small intestine, most frequent its middle segment, jejunum. The complete bowel obstruction almost always requires surgical treatment, while foreign bodies that do not cause obstruction signs most commonly exit the dogs body spontaneously. The most common surgical procedure used is the enterotomy, while resection and intestinal anastomosis are less frequentl