Effect of Oral Simethicone on Ultrasonographic Visualization of the Left Pancreatic Lobe in Cats

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral simethicone administration on the ultrasonographic visualization of the pancreas in cats by reducing gastrointestinal gas-related artifacts. Ten mixed-breed cats without gastrointestinal complaints were included in the study. The left pancreatic lobe was ultrasonographically examined twice. Initial measurements were performed before oral simethicone administration (T0). Subsequently, all cats received oral simethicone at a dose of 4 mg/kg, and measurements were repeated 30 minutes later (T1). Ultrasonographic examinations were performed using an Esaote MyLab™8 Vet ultrasound system. Left pancreatic lobe thickness and pancreatic duct diameter, when visible, were recorded. Data normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, which demonstrated a non-normal distribution. Therefore, measurements were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. No statistically significant difference was observed between pre- and post-simethicone measurements of the left pancreatic lobe (p>0.05). In cases where the pancreas could not be adequately visualized before simethicone administration, no marked improvement in image quality was observed after administration. However, when the pancreas was visualized, measurements remained consistent after treatment. The findings suggest that oral simethicone administration alone does not substantially improve ultrasonographic visualization of the pancreas in cats. Pancreatic visualization appears to be influenced not only by gastrointestinal gas but also by multiple factors, including patient characteristics and imaging conditions.

Keywords

• Cat
• gastrointestinal gas
• pancreas
• simethicone
• ultrasonography
• visualization

Supporting Institution

This research was supported within the scope of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program (project no: 1919B012313760 ).

Project Number

1919B012313760

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with the decision of the Local Ethics Committee on Animal Experiments of Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa dated May 31, 2024 and numbered 2024/32, stating that ethical approval was not required under Article 8 (8–k1) of the relevant regulation.

Thanks

We would like to thank the Department of Surgery and the Department of Radiology of İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for their support in providing the clinical cases included in this study.

Kedilerde Sol Pankreatik Lobun Ultrasonografik Görüntülenmesi Üzerine Oral Simetikonun Etkisi

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, gastrointestinal gaz kaynaklı artefaktları azaltarak kedilerde pankreasın ultrasonografik görüntülenmesi üzerine oral simetikon uygulamasının etkisini değerlendirmektir. Çalışmaya gastrointestinal şikâyeti bulunmayan 10 melez ırk kedi dahil edildi. Sol pankreatik lob ultrasonografik olarak iki kez muayene edildi. İlk ölçümler oral simetikon uygulaması öncesinde (T0) gerçekleştirildi. Ardından tüm kedilere 4 mg/kg dozunda oral simetikon uygulandı ve ölçümler 30 dakika sonra tekrarlandı (T1). Ultrasonografik muayeneler Esaote MyLab™8 Vet ultrasonografi sistemi kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi. Görüntülenebildiği durumlarda sol pankreatik lob kalınlığı ve pankreatik duktus çapı kaydedildi. Verilerin normal dağılıma uygunluğu Shapiro–Wilk testi ile değerlendirildi ve dağılımın normal olmadığı belirlendi. Bu nedenle ölçümler Wilcoxon işaretli sıralar testi kullanılarak analiz edildi. Simetikon uygulaması öncesi ve sonrası sol pankreatik lob ölçümleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark saptanmadı (p>0,05). Simetikon uygulaması öncesinde pankreasın yeterince görüntülenemediği olgularda, uygulama sonrasında görüntü kalitesinde belirgin bir iyileşme gözlenmedi. Bununla birlikte, pankreasın görüntülenebildiği olgularda ölçümlerin uygulama sonrasında da benzer olduğu görüldü. Bulgular, oral simetikon uygulamasının tek başına kedilerde pankreasın ultrasonografik görüntülenmesinde belirgin bir iyileşme sağlamadığını göstermektedir. Pankreasın görüntülenmesinin yalnızca gastrointestinal gazdan değil, hasta özellikleri ve görüntüleme koşulları gibi birçok faktörden etkilendiği düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

• kedi
• pankreas
• ultrasonografi
• simetikon
• gastrointestinal gaz
• görüntüleme

Supporting Institution

Bu araştırma, Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (TÜBİTAK) 2209-A Üniversite Öğrencileri Araştırma Projeleri Destekleme Programı kapsamında desteklenmiştir (Proje No: 1919B012313760).

Project Number

1919B012313760

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma, ilgili yönetmeliğin 8. maddesi (8–k1) kapsamında etik kurul izni gerektirmediğine ilişkin İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Hayvan Deneyleri Yerel Etik Kurulu’nun 31 Mayıs 2024 tarih ve 2024/32 sayılı kararı doğrultusunda yürütülmüştür.

Thanks

Bu çalışmaya dahil edilen klinik olguların sağlanmasındaki desteklerinden dolayı İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Veteriner Fakültesi Cerrahi Anabilim Dalı ve Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı’na teşekkür ederiz.

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