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Equine veterinary journal2022; 54(6); 1023-1030; doi: 10.1111/evj.13557

Peritoneal fluid analysis in equine post-partum emergencies admitted to a referral hospital: A retrospective study of 110 cases.

Abstract: Peritoneal fluid analysis has both diagnostic and prognostic value in colic but is little reported in the post-partum mare. Multiple conditions may present similarly in this period, and peritoneal fluid findings may aid a prompt diagnosis. Objective: To describe the peritoneal fluid findings and their association with diagnosis in mares presenting to a single referral hospital for treatment of post-partum emergencies. Methods: A retrospective clinical study. Methods: Clinical records of 110 Thoroughbred mares were reviewed. Details of peritoneal fluid analysis from samples obtained at admission were recorded, in addition to history, physical examination, presenting clinicopathological data. Cases were classified by their primary diagnosis into groups of gastrointestinal tract (GIT), urogenital trauma (UGT) and post parturient haemorrhage (PPH). Univariable analysis was performed to compare findings between groups, using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey/Kruskal-Wallis, as appropriate. A multinomial logistic regression was performed for variables significant in the univariable analysis. Results: When separated into their diagnostic categories, 33/110 (30%) mares were classified as GIT, 55/110 (50%) UGT and 22/110 (20%) PPH. Peritoneal fluid packed cell volume (PCV), nucleated cell count (WBCC) and cytological findings were significantly different between diagnostic categories. The likelihood of diagnosis of PPH increased with an increase in peritoneal fluid PCV, the absence of degenerate neutrophils on peritoneal fluid cytology and a decrease in the peritoneal fluid WBCC. Overall survival to discharge was 55%. Conclusions: The study is referral hospital-based and retrospective in nature. Missing data reduced the power of analysis for several variables. Conclusions: Peritoneal fluid analysis may guide diagnosis in post-partum emergencies, but no one factor is uniformly diagnostic. Mares with PPH presented with a non-septic peritonitis with higher peritoneal PCV.
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Publication Date: 2022-01-25 PubMed ID: 35007344DOI: 10.1111/evj.13557Google 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.

This research indicates that analysing peritoneal fluid (fluid found in the peritoneal cavity) can guide the diagnosis of troublesome conditions that occur after giving birth in mares. The study showed that peritoneal fluid packed cell volume (PCV), nucleated cell count (WBCC), and cytological findings differed greatly depending on the diagnosis category.

Study Overview and Methods

  • The study is retrospective in nature, reviewing clinical records of 110 Thoroughbred mares from a single referral hospital that presented with post-partum emergencies.
  • The details of peritoneal fluid analysis from samples taken upon admission were recorded. Other documented details included mare history, physical examination, and presenting clinicopathological data.
  • Mares were divided based on their primary diagnosis into three groups: gastrointestinal tract (GIT), urogenital trauma (UGT), and post parturient hemorrhage (PPH).
  • A univariable analysis was conducted to compare findings across the three diagnostic groups.
  • A multinomial logistic regression was performed for variables that showed significance in the univariable analysis.

Results

  • On the breakdown into diagnostic categories, 30% of the mares were classified as GIT, 50% as UGT, and 20% as PPH.
  • The study found that peritoneal fluid PCV, nucleated cell count (WBCC), and cytological findings were significantly different across the diagnostic categories.
  • The chance of a PPH diagnosis increased with an increase in peritoneal fluid PCV. This likelihood also increased with the absence of degenerate neutrophils in the peritoneal fluid cytology and a decrease in the peritoneal fluid WBCC.
  • The overall survival rate to discharge was 55%.

Conclusion

  • Although the study is retrospective and based in a referral hospital, thereby reducing the power of the analysis for some variables due to missing data, the findings bring out a worthy insight.
  • Peritoneal fluid analysis can guide the diagnosis of post-partum emergencies, but no single factor is consistently diagnostic.
  • Mares with PPH presented with non-septic peritonitis and had higher peritoneal PCV.

Cite This Article

APA
Offer KS, Russell CM, Carrick JB, Wallington CE, Cudmore LA, Cuming RS, Collins NM. (2022). Peritoneal fluid analysis in equine post-partum emergencies admitted to a referral hospital: A retrospective study of 110 cases. Equine Vet J, 54(6), 1023-1030. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13557

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 6
Pages: 1023-1030

Researcher Affiliations

Offer, Katie S
  • Weipers Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Russell, Catherine M
  • Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, New South Wales, Australia.
Carrick, Joan B
  • Equine Specialist Consulting, Scone, New South Wales, Australia.
Wallington, Caitlin E
  • Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, New South Wales, Australia.
Cudmore, Lucy A
  • Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, New South Wales, Australia.
Cuming, Rosemary S
  • Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, New South Wales, Australia.
Collins, Niamh M
  • Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, New South Wales, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Ascitic Fluid
  • Emergencies / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horses
  • Hospitals
  • Postpartum Period
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Retrospective Studies

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Rapezzano G, Marcatili M, Stephenson R, Pereira R, Hallowell G, Duz M. Evaluation of peritoneal l-lactate concentration in horses in the early post-partum period. Vet Med Sci 2024 May;10(3):e1352.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.1352pubmed: 38634206google scholar: lookup
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