Ultrasonographic Reference Values of Kidney Dimensions and Clinicopathological Findings Associating the Transcutaneous Ultrasound-Guided Renal Biopsy in Donkeys (Equus asinus).
Authors: Hussein Hussein Awad, Ibrahim Ahmed, Ali Marwa F
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Establishing reliable ultrasonographic reference values for donkey kidneys has proven challenging, prompting this 2018 investigation to document normal dimensions and evaluate the safety profile of transcutaneous ultrasound-guided renal biopsy in the species. Researchers scanned 16 donkeys over three consecutive days, measuring right and left kidney length, width, and internal architecture (cortex, medulla, pelvis), then performed unilateral biopsies on eight animals; measurements demonstrated excellent repeatability and established baseline values (right kidney: 10±0.8 cm length, 4.9±1 cm width; left kidney: 8.9±0.9 cm length, 4.7±0.8 cm width). Whilst all biopsy samples proved diagnostically adequate, complications were universal: subcapsular haematomas developed in all biopsied animals (mild <20 mL, moderate 20–40 mL, severe >40 mL), gross haematuria persisted for 24 hours post-procedure, and variable clinicopathological shifts occurred in serum and urine parameters. For practitioners, these reference values enable more confident assessment of renal pathology, but the procedure's predictable complication profile—particularly haematoma formation and transient but significant haematuria—warrants informed client consent, careful patient selection, and cautious interpretation of post-biopsy laboratory work to avoid misdiagnosing procedure-related changes as primary renal disease.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Establish these kidney dimension reference values for donkeys to aid in diagnosing renal disease via ultrasound—knowing normal measurements helps identify pathology
- •Ultrasound-guided renal biopsy is relatively safe but expect postbiopsy complications including hematoma formation and hematuria; plan follow-up monitoring accordingly
- •Interpret postbiopsy clinicopathological changes (elevated kidney markers, hematuria) cautiously as they reflect biopsy trauma rather than underlying disease progression
Key Findings
- •Right kidney dimensions in donkeys: length 10±8 cm, width 4.9±1 cm, thickness 4.2±0.4 cm; left kidney: length 8.9±0.9 cm, width 4.7±0.8 cm, thickness 3.5±0.7 cm
- •Ultrasound-guided renal biopsy resulted in postbiopsy subcapsular hematomas of mild (<20 mL), moderate (20-40 mL), or severe (>40 mL) degrees
- •Gross hematuria observed for 24 hours post-biopsy followed by microscopic hematuria, with variable clinicopathological changes in blood and urine
- •All biopsy specimens were adequate for histopathological assessment, confirming ultrasound guidance as a viable diagnostic technique