[The short- and long-term results of the “Intensive Care” of 160 sick neonatal foals].

The research summarises the effectiveness of a neonatal intensive care program for ill foals at the Department of Equine Sciences at Utrecht University. The results show varying survival rates based on illness category and highlight pCO2 as a significant prognostic variable.

Research Objectives and Methodology

• This research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and prognostic markers of the Utrecht University’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
• The study involved the categorization of 160 ill neonatal foals admitted to the ICU from 1992 to 2001.
• These foals were grouped based on the specific ailments they were diagnosed with. The major categories were ‘Sepsis’, ‘Pneumonia’, ‘Enteritis’, ‘Asphyxia’, ‘Premature’, ‘Isoerythrolysis’, and ‘Equine herpes virus (EHV)’.
• Key metrics analyzed included the duration of hospitalization and the survival rate for each disease category.
• Blood test variables at admission were also compared for surviving and non-surviving foals within groups, between groups, and overall.
• In order to obtain long-term results, a phone questionnaire was administered to the owners of the surviving foals.

Key Findings

• Out of the 160 critically ill foals admitted, the overall survival rate was 36%.
• The average length of hospital stay for foals that survived was 6.6 days and for those who didn’t it was 3 days.
• pCO2 was found to be a significant diagnostic and prognostic variable. This indicates, for example, that carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream could be a determinant for the foal’s survival.
• The researcher’s findings from the telephone questionnaire showed that 60% of the surviving foals met the owner’s long-term expectations.

Conclusions

• The research highlights the effectiveness of the ‘Neonatal Intensive Care Unit’ program in dealing with different illnesses in foals.
• It also brings forth potential diagnostic and prognostic indicators that can be used to improve care methods and survivability rates.
• In the long-term, the majority of the surviving foals lived up to the owner’s expectations, indicating a general satisfaction with the care provided.