Sensitivity and specificity of blood leukocyte counts as an indicator of mortality in horses after colic surgery.
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to describe and relate perioperative changes in blood leukocyte counts to the outcome of surgical colic horses, determine a cut-off value in the early postoperative period to obtain an indicator of the outcome, and compare the obtained value to a validation population of horses. Fifty-three horses undergoing colic surgery were included in the descriptive part of the study. Total leukocyte counts were performed before, during and serially after surgery. A receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed on the leukocyte counts of 45 of these horses to determine a cut-off value for the outcome. The results obtained were validated on a second set of 50 horses that underwent colic surgery in similar conditions. The kinetics of blood leukocytes in survivors was higher than in non-survivors during the first days. Non-survivor horses were more likely to have at least one blood leukocyte count ≤ 3.9 × 10(3)/mm(3) between 28 and 60 hours after surgery than survivor horses. This cut-off value was confirmed in the validation population. These results suggest that routine values of blood leukocyte counts can be used as an additional prognostic indicator after colic surgery alongside other predictors previously associated with the outcome.
Publication Date: 2013-08-12 PubMed ID: 23939753DOI: 10.1136/vr.101503Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Validation Study
Summary
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This research study sought to investigate whether blood leukocyte counts in horses post-colic surgery could serve as an outcome predictor of survival rate. It discovered a link between lower leukocyte counts in operation’s aftermath and higher chances of mortality, suggesting that leukocyte counts could indeed be useful in offering prognosis post-surgery.
Research Analysis
- The study was conducted with the purpose of establishing a relationship between the changes in blood leukocyte counts during the perioperative period and the eventual outcome for horses that have gone through colic surgery. It further aimed at determining a cut-off value early in the post-surgery period that could be indicative of the outcome.
- Initially, the study was carried out with 53 horses who underwent colic surgery. The researchers performed total leukocyte counts before, during, and numerous times post-surgery.
- Out of these 53 horses, leukocyte counts from 45 horses served to determine a cut-off value for the outcome using a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. This statistical method helps choose the most apt cut-off value distinguishing between differing diagnostic outcomes.
- The preliminary results were then corroborated with findings from an additional 50 horses that underwent the same surgical procedure in similar conditions.
Key Findings
- The research found that in the initial post-surgery days, the blood leukocyte activity in the surviving horses was significantly higher in comparison to that of the non-survivors.
- It was also found that horses that didn’t survive were more likely to have at least one blood leukocyte count of less than or equal to 3.9 x 10(3) cells per cubic millimeter between 28 and 60 hours after their surgery. This was not as common in horses that survived.
- The cut-off value was validated in the second group of 50 horses. In light of their findings, the researchers concluded that the count of blood leukocytes can be used as an extra prognostic indicator post colic surgery, together with other previously discovered outcome predictors.
Cite This Article
APA
Salciccia A, Sandersen C, Grulke S, de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Caudron I, Serteyn D, Detilleux J.
(2013).
Sensitivity and specificity of blood leukocyte counts as an indicator of mortality in horses after colic surgery.
Vet Rec, 173(11), 267.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.101503 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Companion Animals and Equids, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, B41, Equine Clinic, University of Liège, Sart Tilman, Liège 4000, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Colic / blood
- Colic / mortality
- Colic / surgery
- Colic / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horses
- Leukocyte Count / standards
- Leukocyte Count / statistics & numerical data
- Leukocyte Count / veterinary
- Male
- Perioperative Period / veterinary
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Prognosis
- ROC Curve
- Reference Values
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Lambert JL, Fernandez NJ, Roy MF. Association of Presence of Band Cells and Toxic Neutrophils with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and Outcome in Horses with Acute Disease.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1284-92.
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