Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41866886›Full record

ArticleAustralian veterinary journal2026

Imaging of the equine abdomen using point of care ultrasound (POCUS): Effects of sedation on intestinal motility in horses.

F Freccero, B Padalino, A Carstens, S L Raidal

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Australian veterinary journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

F FrecceroDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
B PadalinoFaculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.
A CarstensSchool of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.
S L RaidalSchool of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPoint of care ultrasonographic (POCUS) assessment of the equine abdomen is now readily available to the equine practitioner using hand-held ultrasound transducers. Commonly used medications may alter the sonographic appearance or function of the small intestine, caecum or colon.

aimTo demonstrate qualitative and quantitative effects of xylazine sedation on intestinal motility of healthy horses using hand-held, wi-fi ultrasound transducers and validate POCUS methodology by determination of intra- and interobserver agreement. METHODOLOGY: Double-blind cross-over study of eight healthy horses using hand-held, wi-fi ultrasound transducers to determine the effects of sedation on intestinal motility in comparison with administration of a placebo (saline). Motility was independently assessed by three observers using deidentified videos obtained using hand-held, wi-fi ultrasound transducers. Agreement was assessed by determination of intraclass correlation coefficient (number of duodenal contractions) and weighted kappa statistic for motility grades.

findingsSedation was associated with fewer duodenal contractions (median 0.5, range 0 to 2) after sedation, compared with administration of saline (median 4, range 3 to 5, p < 0.001). Large colon and composite motility grades were also reduced (median 4.5, range 2 to 6 after sedation; median 10, range 7 to 12, after saline, p = 0.005), and qualitative changes were evident in the sonographic appearance of jejunal loops in six of eight horses. Interobserver agreement was moderate to good, and intraobserver agreement was good to excellent.

conclusionPOCUS proved to be an effective tool to recognise qualitative and quantitative changes associated with sedation.

Indexed as

AbdomenGastrointestinal MotilityHypnotics and SedativesPoint-of-Care SystemsXylazineAnimalsCross-Over StudiesDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHorsesMaleProcedural SedationUltrasonographyHypnotics and SedativesXylazinecolicgastrointestinal motilityintra‐ and interobserver agreementsonographyxylazine

Identifiers

PMID41866886
PMCPMC13132013

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.