Case Study

RAD – Gastroenteritis with concern for foreign body post barium administration in a 9 month old F Portugese Water Dog

This 9 month old intact F Portugese Water Dog presented last night for acute vomiting with fabric present. O found evidence of carpet padding chewing. Barium administered; eating intermittently overnight. PE: mild mid abdominal discomfort on palpation last night, less so today.

Image Interpretation

Most of the barium has passed the stomach and small intestine on the views obtained this morning.
The cecum and colon are filled with barium. A mild to moderate amount of barium adheres to the villi of the small intestinal wall. There is no abnormal dilation, no plication and no evidence of obstruction of the small intestine. The stomach however contains a moderate amount of textures soft tissue opaque material. A mild amount of barium appears to be adhered to the material within the stomach.
The serosal detail is within normal limits.

DX

Moderate distension of the stomach with soft tissue opaque material and enteritis pattern

Outcome

The radiographic findings are suggestive for gastroenteritis.
There is no definitive mechanical obstruction. The gastric soft tissue opaque material can be due to intake of food and or foreign material. The amounts of barium adhered to the material are small which renders food intake after the passage of barium more likely than actual foreign material. Clinical and radiographic recheck should be considered along with empirical treatment for gastroenteritis and supportive care. Abdominal ultrasound may be considered as well if the patient remains refractory to the therapeutic measures and the radiographs are inconclusive.

Patient Information

Patient Name : Ellie Silva

Gender : Female, Intact

Species : Canine

Type of Imaging : Ultrasound

Status : Complete

Liz Wuz Here : Yes

Code : 17-00082

Clinical Signs

Concern for FB Ingestion
Vomiting

Images

Clinical Signs

Concern for FB Ingestion
Vomiting