J Vet Sci.  2022 Sep;23(5):e66. 10.4142/jvs.22038.

Serial venous lactate measurement following gastrointestinal surgery in horses

• Smanik LE
• Moser DK
• Rothers KP
• Hackett ES

• KMID: 2533395
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.22038

Abstract

Background
Prospective clinical study of blood lactate concentration in horses undergoing colic surgery is needed to determine utility in outcome prediction.
Objectives
To evaluate venous lactate measurements in horses following colic surgery, including immediately after anesthetic recovery and daily throughout hospitalization, as well as to determine if lactate concentrations were significantly higher in horses that developed postoperative complications or did not survive to hospital discharge.
Methods
Horses > 1 year of age undergoing surgery for colic and recovered from general anesthesia were sampled. A portable lactate meter was used to measure venous samples collected immediately following anesthetic recovery and daily throughout hospitalization. Complications arising during hospitalization and survival to hospital discharge were recorded.
Results
Fifty one horses were enrolled, ranging in age from 2 to 29 years. Lactate concentration immediately following anesthetic recovery was higher in horses that developed complications during hospitalization (p = 0.046). The odds of developing complications postoperatively were doubled for horses with a venous lactate concentration > 5 mmol/L. Lactate measurements in non-survivors were significantly higher compared to survivors by 96 h postoperatively (p < 0.006).
Conclusions
Higher venous lactate concentrations in the postoperative colic period were associated with an increased risk of complications and death. Results suggest horses with higher venous lactate measurements in recovery are more likely to have postoperative complications, with the odds of developing complications doubled for horses with a venous lactate > 5 mmol/L. Evaluation of venous lactate could provide information on prognosis in the postoperative period for horses with surgical colic.

Keyword

gastrointestinal surgical procedure; gastrointestinal diseases; point-of-care systems; prospective studies