Plasma colloid osmotic pressure and total protein in horses during colic surgery.
Abstract: To assess the changes in colloid osmotic pressure (COP) in horses undergoing surgery for colic. Methods: Prospective clinical evaluation. Methods: Twenty-nine adult horses presented for emergency laparotomy. Methods: Horses were premedicated with intravenous (IV) xylazine and anesthesia was induced with ketamine, diazepam and guaifenesin and was maintained with isoflurane as required. Lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) was given to all horses during anesthesia. Blood was collected in heparin before, and every 30 minutes during, anesthesia to measure COP, total protein concentration (TP), osmolality, packed cell volume, electrolytes, glucose and lactate. In addition, COP was estimated using different formulas previously described for horses. Results: Before anesthesia, COP and TP were 18.7 +/- 2.2 mmHg (2.49 +/- 0.29 kPa) and 6.3 +/- 0.7 g dL(-1), respectively. The horses received a mean +/- SD of 19.5 +/- 3.9 mL kg(-1) hour(-1) (range 15-25 mL kg(-1)hour(-1)) of LRS during anesthesia. The COP and TP decreased linearly (R(2) = 0.99, p < 0.01) during anesthesia and reached the lowest point at the end of anesthesia with a COP of 11.6 +/- 1.6 mmHg (1.55 +/- 0.21 kPa) and TP of 4.4 +/- 0.4 g dL(-1). The Pearson correlation coefficient for COP versus TP was r(2) = 0.78. Calculation of COP from TP concentrations showed that two formulas could predict COP to within 1 mmHg (0.13 kPa) (Thomas & Brown 1992; Boscan et al. 2007). Conclusions: Colloid osmotic pressure, like TP, decreased greatly over the course of crystalloid fluid infusion during anesthesia for laparotomy in horses with colic. This change may predispose the animal to tissue edema with subsequent morbidity.
Publication Date: 2007-08-13 PubMed ID: 17696975DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2006.00342.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Evaluation Study
- 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 study examines how plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP) and total protein levels in horses change during colic surgery. The researchers observed a significant decrease in both COP and total protein during anesthesia, suggesting a risk of tissue edema and subsequent complications.
Research Methodology
- Twenty-nine adult horses undergoing emergency laparotomy were included in the study as subjects.
- Each horse was premedicated with intravenous (IV) xylazine, ketamine, diazepam and guaifenesin and anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane as necessary. During anesthesia, all horses were given Lactated Ringer’s solution.
- Blood samples were collected from each horse before anesthesia and then every 30 minutes during anesthesia. The samples were used to measure colloid osmotic pressure (COP), total protein concentration, osmolality, packed cell volume, electrolytes, glucose, and lactate levels.
- Changes in COP were also estimated using formulas that were previously described for horses.
Research Findings
- Initially (before anesthesia), the horses had an average COP of 18.7 and a total protein concentration of 6.3 g/dL. They were given a mean of 19.5 mL/kg/hr of Lactated Ringer’s solution during anesthesia.
- Both the COP and total protein levels decreased consistently during anesthesia, and were lowest at the end of anesthesia (11.6 COP and 4.4 g/dL total protein). The decrease was found to be linear, reflecting a potential relationship between the two variables.
- A statistically significant correlation (r2 = 0.78) was found between COP and total protein. Two formulas, Thomas & Brown 1992 and Boscan et al. 2007, were verified to predict COP within 1mmHg (0.13 kPa) using total protein concentrations.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that colloid osmotic pressure and total protein both decrease greatly during anesthesia for laparotomy in horses with colic.
- This decrease is potentially problematic, as it can predispose the horse to tissue edema, which can lead to further health complications.
Cite This Article
APA
Boscan P, Steffey EP.
(2007).
Plasma colloid osmotic pressure and total protein in horses during colic surgery.
Vet Anaesth Analg, 34(6), 408-415.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2995.2006.00342.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis, CA, USA. pboscan@colostate.edu
MeSH Terms
- Anesthesia / veterinary
- Anesthetics, Inhalation / administration & dosage
- Anesthetics, Inhalation / pharmacology
- Anesthetics, Intravenous / administration & dosage
- Anesthetics, Intravenous / pharmacology
- Animals
- Blood Proteins / metabolism
- Colic / surgery
- Colic / veterinary
- Colloids / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses / blood
- Infusions, Intravenous / veterinary
- Isoflurane / administration & dosage
- Isoflurane / pharmacology
- Isotonic Solutions / administration & dosage
- Laparotomy / veterinary
- Osmotic Pressure / drug effects
- Prospective Studies
- Ringer's Lactate
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Crabtree NE, Epstein KL. Current Concepts in Fluid Therapy in Horses. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:648774.
- Freeman DE. Effect of Feed Intake on Water Consumption in Horses: Relevance to Maintenance Fluid Therapy. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:626081.
- Binici O, Kati I, Goktas U, Soyaral L, Aytekin OC. Comparing effects of low and high-flow anesthesia on hemorheology and coagulation factors. Pak J Med Sci 2015;31(3):683-7.
- Wendt-Hornickle EL, Snyder LB, Tang R, Johnson RA. The effects of lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) or LRS and 6% hetastarch on the colloid osmotic pressure, total protein and osmolality in healthy horses under general anesthesia. Vet Anaesth Analg 2011 Jul;38(4):336-43.
- Michaletos A, Breytenbach M, Zeiler GE. Effects of haemorrhage and lactated Ringer's solution or tetrastarch 130/0.4 resuscitation on colloidal osmotic pressure and osmolality in cats. J Feline Med Surg 2025 Apr;27(4):1098612X251320299.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
