Peritoneal fluid analysis in ponies after abdominal surgery.
Abstract: Ten student surgery ponies were subjected to exploratory laparotomy. Abdominal paracentesis was performed preoperatively and daily postoperatively for 6 days, then the ponies were euthanatized and necropsied. Initial baseline peritoneal fluid parameters were within established reference limits. Postoperatively, the total leukocyte count and total protein in the peritoneal fluid rose and remained elevated for the 6 days of the study. Complete blood counts (CBCs) were performed preoperatively and on days 1 and 4 postoperatively. On day 1, a stress leukogram with a mild inflammatory component developed, but by day 4, the CBCs were within normal limits. The mean plasma fibrinogen levels, which were determined daily, peaked on day 4.
Publication Date: 1988-01-01 PubMed ID: 3256144DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1988.tb00268.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study investigates the changes in peritoneal fluid (fluid in the abdominal cavity) in ponies after abdominal surgery. The researchers performed surgery on student ponies and examined their abdominal fluid over a period of 6 days postoperatively.
Methodology
- Ten student ponies underwent exploratory abdominal surgery, also known as laparotomy, in this study.
- Before the operation and every day for the next six days, the researchers carried out abdominal paracentesis – a procedure to extract fluid from the abdomen for analysis.
- The ponies were then euthanized and a necropsy (an autopsy for animals) was carried out.
Findings
- The baseline peritoneal fluid parameters obtained before the surgery were within the established reference limits, serving as an normal comparison point.
- After the operation, there was an observed rise that maintained over the six days in the total leukocyte (white blood cells) count and total protein level in the peritoneal fluid, indicating an inflammatory response post-surgery.
- Complete Blood Counts (CBCs), which give detailed information about the blood, were performed before the operation, and on the first and fourth day after the operation.
- On the first day after surgery, the CBC showed a stress leukogram with a slight inflammatory component, suggesting the body’s response to the surgical stress and potential infection.
- By the fourth day post-surgery, the CBCs returned to the normal range, indicating the body’s recovery process.
- However, the researchers found that the levels of plasma fibrinogen (a protein involved in blood clotting) in the blood peaked on the fourth day. This could imply the healing process was still ongoing and the body was trying to repair the surgical wound.
Conclusion
- This research helps us better understand the peritoneal fluid changes that occur in ponies after an abdominal surgery over time, including the inflammatory component and clotting mechanisms.
- These findings are of importance for equine veterinarians and researchers, as they provide insight into post-surgical recovery process and could aid in providing better care in such scenarios.
Cite This Article
APA
Santschi EM, Grindem CB, Tate LP, Corbett WT.
(1988).
Peritoneal fluid analysis in ponies after abdominal surgery.
Vet Surg, 17(1), 6-9.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950x.1988.tb00268.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Food Animal and Equine Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Ascitic Fluid / analysis
- Horses / surgery
- Laparotomy / veterinary
- Leukocyte Count
- Reference Values
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Eurell TE, Wilson DA, Baker GJ. The effect of exploratory laparotomy on the serum and peritoneal haptoglobin concentrations of the pony. Can J Vet Res 1993 Jan;57(1):42-4.
- Juzwiak JS, Ragle CA, Brown CM, Krehbiel JD, Slocombe RF. The effect of repeated abdominocentesis on peritoneal fluid constituents in the horse. Vet Res Commun 1991;15(3):177-80.
- Adamu SS, Egwu GO, Malgwi JT. Biochemical changes in the peritoneal fluid following rumenotomy in goats. Vet Res Commun 1991;15(5):363-7.
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