Effects of aerobic and anaerobic fluid collection on biochemical analysis of peritoneal fluid in healthy horses and horses with colic.

This research study analyzes how the exposure of peritoneal fluid to room air affects the results of biochemical analysis in healthy horses and those with colic. The results showed that exposure to air notably influences values such as pH, PCO(2), PO(2), HCO(3)(-), and ionized Ca(2+), which suggests that the method of fluid sample collection could impact the interpretation of analysis results.

Research Methodology

• The study was conducted as a prospective research involving horses suffering from acute abdominal pain (colic) and healthy horses for comparison.
• Peritoneal fluid was collected under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, ensuring the sample was not exposed to air in the latter method.
• Several components of the fluid (pH, PCO(2), PO(2), HCO(3)(-), Na(+), ionized Ca(2+), K(+), lactate, and glucose) were immediately measured post-collection with the use of a commercial blood gas analyzer.
• Differences in these biochemical properties between samples collected aerobically and anaerobically were compared using a paired t-test.

Research Findings

• In healthy horses, samples collected under anaerobic conditions showed higher PCO(2), ionized Ca(2+) and lower PO(2), HCO(3)(-), and pH values compared to samples exposed to air.
• However, no differences were observed in terms of K(+), Na(+), glucose, and lactate.
• In colic-affected horses, anaerobically collected samples demonstrated higher PCO(2), ionized Ca(2+), Na(+), and glucose values and lower PO(2), HCO(3)(-), and pH value compared to samples exposed to air.
• Like the healthy horses, no differences were observed for K(+) and lactate.

Conclusions

• The exposure of peritoneal fluid to room air significantly affected pH, PCO(2), PO(2), HCO(3)(-) and ionized Ca(2+).
• The sample collection method can therefore influence the results and interpretation of a biochemical analysis of peritoneal fluid.