Reliability of using results of abdominal fluid analysis to determine treatment and predict lesion type and outcome for horses with colic: 218 cases (1991-1994).
Abstract: To assess clinical utility of abdominal fluid analysis in predicting outcome, lesion type, and whether medical or surgical treatment is indicated for horses with colic. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 218 horses > 1 year old. Methods: Horses were classified on the basis of age, site of lesion, lesion type (nonstrangulating vs strangulating), type of treatment (medical vs surgical), and outcome (survival vs nonsurvival). Sensitivity and specificity of using age and results of abdominal fluid analysis, individually and in combination, to predict lesion type, type of treatment, and outcome were determined. Results: Most single variables evaluated were found to have low sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value for determining lesion type, whether medical or surgical treatment was indicated, and outcome. When evaluated in series, abdominal fluid color and specific gravity had a high positive predictive value for lesion type, and patient age and abdominal fluid color had a high positive predictive value for outcome. Conclusions: Results of abdominal fluid analysis cannot be used alone to accurately predict lesion type, whether medical or surgical treatment is needed, or outcome for horses with colic.
Publication Date: 1998-10-20 PubMed ID: 9777000
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the effectiveness of abdominal fluid analysis in predicting the best type of treatment, lesion type, and the outcome for horses with colic. The study reveals that the use of this method alone is not entirely reliable, though when combined with additional factors such as age, it can have more predictive value.
Research Methods
- The study is retrospective and involves 218 horses aged more than one year.
- Horses were categorized according to age, lesion location, type of lesion (strangulating vs non-strangulating), treatment type (medical vs surgical), and the outcome (survival vs non-survival).
- The researchers determined the sensitivity and specificity of using age and the results of abdominal fluid analysis, both individually and in combination, to predict the lesion type, treatment type, and outcome.
Research Findings
- Most single variables examined had low sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value for determining the type of lesion, the type of treatment required, and the outcome.
- However, when analyzed in succession, the color of the abdominal fluid and its specific gravity showed a high positive predictive value for the type of lesion.
- The age of the patient and the color of the abdominal fluid also demonstrated a high positive predictive value for the outcome.
Research Conclusions
- The outcomes suggest that the results of the abdominal fluid analysis on its own can’t accurately predict lesion type, the necessity of medical or surgical treatment, or the outcome for horses with colic.
- When used in combination with other factors such as age and specific gravity of the fluid, however, the predictive value increases, suggesting a multi-factorial approach could be more effective in determining treatment and outcomes for horses with colic.
Cite This Article
APA
Freden GO, Provost PJ, Rand WM.
(1998).
Reliability of using results of abdominal fluid analysis to determine treatment and predict lesion type and outcome for horses with colic: 218 cases (1991-1994).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 213(7), 1012-1015.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Ascitic Fluid / chemistry
- Ascitic Fluid / cytology
- Ascitic Fluid / veterinary
- Cell Count / veterinary
- Colic / diagnosis
- Colic / therapy
- Colic / veterinary
- Erythrocyte Count / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Logistic Models
- Male
- Pigmentation
- Prognosis
- Retrospective Studies
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Specific Gravity
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Cummings CO, Krucik DDR, Price E. Clinical predictive models in equine medicine: A systematic review.. Equine Vet J 2023 Jul;55(4):573-583.
- Grulke S, Franck T, Gangl M, Péters F, Salciccia A, Deby-Dupont G, Serteyn D. Myeloperoxidase assay in plasma and peritoneal fluid of horses with gastrointestinal disease.. Can J Vet Res 2008 Jan;72(1):37-42.
- Thoefner MB, Ersbøll BK, Jansson N, Hesselholt M. Diagnostic decision rule for support in clinical assessment of the need for surgical intervention in horses with acute abdominal pain.. Can J Vet Res 2003 Jan;67(1):20-9.
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