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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Evaluation of peritoneal fluid lactate as a marker of intest...
Equine veterinary journal2005; 37(4); 342-346; doi: 10.2746/0425164054529319

Evaluation of peritoneal fluid lactate as a marker of intestinal ischaemia in equine colic.

Abstract: The most common cause of death as a direct result of colic is acute circulatory failure secondary to intestinal ischaemia. Early and accurate recognition of ischaemic bowel is essential to decrease complications and increase survival. Blood to peritoneal lactate values have been evaluated as a prognostic indicator, but lactate values characterised by type of lesion have not been reported. Objective: Plasma and peritoneal lactate values are higher in horses with intestinal ischaemia secondary to a strangulating obstruction (ISSO). Methods: Venous blood and peritoneal fluid were collected sequentially from 20 clinically healthy horses and 189 horses admitted for colic during a one-year period. Blood gas, pH, electrolyte (K+, Na+, Ca++, Cl-), glucose and lactate values were determined for blood and peritoneal fluid samples; other values recorded for peritoneal fluid included gross appearance, total protein and nucleated cell count. Information regarding diagnosis, treatment and outcome was retrieved from the medical records. Results: Peritoneal and plasma levels of lactate were lower in control compared to clinical cases. Horses with ISSO had a higher peritoneal lactate value (8.45 mmol/l) than those with nonstrangulating obstruction (2.09 mmo/l). Factors with the strongest correlations with the presence of ISSO were changes in the gross appearance of the peritoneal fluid and values of peritoneal fluid chloride, pH and log10 lactate. Conclusions: Analysis of peritoneal fluid gross appearance, pH, lactate and chloride can be used for diagnosis of ISSO. Conclusions: Peritoneal fluid lactate is a better predictor of ISSO than blood lactate and may aid in early detection of catastrophic peritoneal lesions such as intestinal strangulation and rupture.
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Publication Date: 2005-07-21 PubMed ID: 16028624DOI: 10.2746/0425164054529319Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research article explores the use of peritoneal fluid lactate as an indicator of intestinal ischaemia in equine colic. It found that peritoneal fluid lactate was a more reliable indicator of serious intestinal problems in horses than previous methods.

Study Objective

  • The article aimed to understand if there was a correlation between the plasma and peritoneal lactate values and intestinal ischaemia, which is caused by strangulating obstruction (ISSO).
  • Early detection of ischaemic bowel is critical to reducing complications and improving survival rates for equines suffering from colic, and the researchers sought to identify a more accurate method of diagnosis.

Methodology

  • Over a one-year period, the researchers collected venous blood and peritoneal fluid sequentially from 20 clinically healthy horses and 189 horses admitted for colic.
  • Blood gas, pH, electrolyte (K+, Na+, Ca++, Cl-), glucose, lactate values and other values for peritoneal fluids like gross appearance, total protein and nucleated cell count were recorded.
  • Details regarding diagnoses, treatment and outcome were gathered from medical records for analysis.

Results

  • Compared to healthy horses, the clinical cases had higher levels of lactate in their plasma and peritoneal fluid.
  • Horses with ISSO had higher peritoneal lactate values (8.45 mmol/l) compared to those experiencing a non-strangulating obstruction (2.09 mmol/l).
  • The study identified several factors strongly correlated with the presence of ISSO, including changes in the peritoneal fluid’s gross appearance, peritoneal fluid chloride, and pH and log10 lactate values.

Conclusions

  • The researchers concluded that analyzing peritoneal fluid’s gross appearance, pH, lactate, and chloride levels could help diagnose ISSO in horses suffering from colic.
  • The study also found that peritoneal fluid lactate levels are a better predictor for ISSO compared to blood lactate levels, suggesting that this could aid in the early detection of grave peritoneal anomalies like intestinal strangulation and rupture.

Cite This Article

APA
Latson KM, Nieto JE, Beldomenico PM, Snyder JR. (2005). Evaluation of peritoneal fluid lactate as a marker of intestinal ischaemia in equine colic. Equine Vet J, 37(4), 342-346. https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164054529319

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 37
Issue: 4
Pages: 342-346

Researcher Affiliations

Latson, K M
  • Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Nieto, J E
    Beldomenico, P M
      Snyder, J R

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Ascitic Fluid / chemistry
        • Biomarkers / analysis
        • Biomarkers / blood
        • Blood Gas Analysis / veterinary
        • Case-Control Studies
        • Chlorides / analysis
        • Colic / diagnosis
        • Colic / metabolism
        • Colic / veterinary
        • Female
        • Horse Diseases / blood
        • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
        • Horse Diseases / metabolism
        • Horses
        • Intestinal Obstruction / diagnosis
        • Intestinal Obstruction / metabolism
        • Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
        • Intestines / blood supply
        • Ischemia / diagnosis
        • Ischemia / metabolism
        • Ischemia / veterinary
        • Lactates / analysis
        • Lactates / blood
        • Male

        Citations

        This article has been cited 21 times.
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