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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(20); doi: 10.3390/ani13203241

Arterial Blood Gas, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Values as Diagnostic and Prognostic Indicators in Equine Colic.

Abstract: The study aimed to investigate if arterial blood analysis in conscious horses presenting with signs of colic and breathing ambient air had diagnostic or prognostic value. Arterial blood samples from 352 horses presenting with colic at a university equine referral hospital were analysed for pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), concentrations of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), ionised calcium (Ca2+) and chloride (Cl-), actual and standardised plasma bicarbonate concentration (HCO3- (P) and HCO3- (P, st)), blood and extracellular fluid base excess (Base (B) and Base (ecf)) and anion gap (AG). Results were compared to previously reported values for healthy horses, and comparisons were made between final diagnosis, treatment and survival to hospital discharge. Significant differences were found between colic cases and healthy reference values between some primary aetiologies. Overall, surgical and non-surgical colic cases differed in Ca2+ and Cl- concentrations and Ca2+ differed between cases that survived to discharge and those that did not. PaO2 differed between small intestinal surgical cases that survived and those that did not. From these results, we developed regression models that demonstrated excellent or good predictive value in identifying the likelihood of surgical versus medical management and survival to hospital discharge.
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Publication Date: 2023-10-17 PubMed ID: 37893965PubMed Central: PMC10603645DOI: 10.3390/ani13203241Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research study investigates whether analyzing arterial blood samples in conscious horses demonstrating signs of colic and breathing ambient air has any diagnostic or prognostic value. The study reveals that differences in certain elements in these blood samples can predict whether a horse requires surgical or medical treatment, as well as the chances of its survival to hospital discharge.

Study Methodology and Findings

  • The study analyzed arterial blood samples from 352 horses who were brought to a university equine referral hospital with colic symptoms.
  • The blood samples were tested for a variety of indicators, including pH levels, partial pressure of carbon dioxide and oxygen, concentrations of sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, and chloride, actual and standardized plasma bicarbonate concentrations, and anion gap.
  • The collected data was compared to previously published healthy reference values, and comparisons were also made based on the final diagnosis, the treatment received, and whether the horse survived until discharge from the hospital.

Key Findings

  • Differences were found between the colic cases and healthy reference values for certain elements. These findings indicate that arterial blood analysis has the potential to serve as a diagnostic tool in colic cases.
  • The study found differences in calcium and chloride concentrations between surgical and non-surgical colic cases. This suggests that these elements can serve as potential indicators when deciding the appropriate treatment for a horse with colic symptoms.
  • Differences in calcium levels were also noted between the horses that survived until discharge and those that did not. This suggests that calcium levels could potentially serve as a prognostic indicator.
  • Partial pressure of oxygen varied between small intestinal surgical cases that survived as compared to those that did not. Thus, oxygen levels can also be considered a potential survival indicator.

Conclusions and Predictive Models Developed

  • The study emphasized that these elements – specifically calcium and chloride concentrations, and partial pressure of oxygen – have diagnostic and prognostic potential in colic cases.
  • From the results, the researchers developed regression models that showed good predictive value in determining the likelihood of a horse requiring surgical over medical management and predicting survival until hospital discharge.
  • This data implies that arterial blood analysis can help identify horses with colic that are more likely to require surgical intervention or have lower chances of survival.

Cite This Article

APA
Viterbo L, Hughes J, Milner PI, Bardell D. (2023). Arterial Blood Gas, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Values as Diagnostic and Prognostic Indicators in Equine Colic. Animals (Basel), 13(20). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203241

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 20

Researcher Affiliations

Viterbo, Luisa
  • North Downs Specialist Referrals, Part of Linnaeus Veterinary Limited, The Fresian Buildings 3-4, Dairy Business Park, Brewer Street, Bletchingley RH1 4QP, UK.
Hughes, Jodie
  • North Downs Specialist Referrals, Part of Linnaeus Veterinary Limited, The Fresian Buildings 3-4, Dairy Business Park, Brewer Street, Bletchingley RH1 4QP, UK.
Milner, Peter I
  • Department of Equine Clinical Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.
Bardell, David
  • Department of Equine Clinical Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.

Grant Funding

  • no / Linnaeus Veterinary Limited

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Román Durá B, Dunham O, Grulke S, Salciccia A, Dupont J, Sandersen C. A Retrospective Study on Pre- and Intraoperative Predictors on the Recovery Quality of Horses After General Anesthesia. Vet Sci 2025 Mar 11;12(3).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12030262pubmed: 40266986google scholar: lookup
  2. Milner PI, Bardell D. Can Arterial Blood Gas, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Analysis at Admission be Used to Predict Survival to Hospital Discharge for Different Causes of Colic?. Vet Med Sci 2025 Mar;11(2):e70210.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.70210pubmed: 39912702google scholar: lookup
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