Study of a rapid ultrasonographic technique for the evaluation of the abdominal organs in rabbits.

BACKGROUND

Focused ultrasonographic imaging techniques are commonly used for cats and dogs; however, such techniques have not been described in rabbits.

METHODS

Focused abdominal ultrasonography was performed on 12 healthy conscious rabbits using four acoustic windows: xiphisternal, left and right renal and cystic. They were positioned in sternal recumbency on a table top, with a cut-out area to allow access to the ventral abdomen. Ultrasonographic images were obtained using a micro-convex probe (3‒11 MHz), and the organs identified in each image were recorded.

RESULTS

The liver, kidneys, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, caecum and colon were identified in all rabbits (12/12). In most rabbits, the following were identified: urinary bladder (11/12), gall bladder (11/12), spleen (10/12) and caudal vena cava or aorta (7/10). The right adrenal gland was identified in five of the 12 rabbits, but the left adrenal gland was identified in only one. The stomach filled at least one view in all rabbits, and the caecum filled the view in nine of 12 rabbits. Other structures thought to be identified included caecal flexures (9/12), appendix (9/12), ampulla coli (3/12), sacculus rotundus (3/12), colonic haustrae (2/12) and pancreas (2/12).

LIMITATION: Only neutered individuals were imaged, so the usefulness of the technique for imaging the reproductive organs could not be determined.

CONCLUSION

This technique enabled imaging of the major abdominal organs in most rabbits, demonstrating the potential value of focused imaging in this species.