Arterial Blood Gas, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Values as Diagnostic and Prognostic Indicators in Equine Colic.
Authors: Viterbo Luisa, Hughes Jodie, Milner Peter I, Bardell David
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Arterial blood gas analysis offers measurable diagnostic and prognostic information in equine colic cases, as demonstrated by this investigation of 352 horses presenting to a referral hospital. The research team measured pH, blood gases, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, ionised calcium and chloride) and acid-base parameters in conscious, breathing horses, then correlated findings with final diagnosis, treatment type and survival outcomes. Ionised calcium and chloride concentrations reliably differentiated between surgical and medical colic cases, whilst calcium levels also predicted survival; notably, oxygen tension (PaO2) specifically indicated survival in small intestinal surgical patients—information that may assist prognostication in a high-risk subgroup. The authors developed regression models from these parameters that demonstrated excellent or good predictive accuracy for determining whether a case would require surgery and whether the horse would survive to discharge. For practitioners, arterial sampling provides an objective, quantifiable tool alongside clinical assessment to guide treatment decisions and inform owners of realistic outcomes, particularly valuable when managing acute abdominal disease where prognosis remains uncertain during initial evaluation.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Arterial blood gas analysis can help prognosticate colic cases and predict whether surgical or medical management is likely needed
- •Ionised calcium and chloride concentrations have practical diagnostic value in differentiating colic types and predicting survival outcomes
- •Incorporating blood gas and electrolyte analysis into colic case assessment may improve clinical decision-making regarding treatment approach and owner counselling about prognosis
Key Findings
- •Arterial blood gas and electrolyte values differed significantly between colic cases and healthy reference horses, with some parameters varying by primary aetiology
- •Ionised calcium (Ca2+) and chloride (Cl-) concentrations distinguished between surgical and non-surgical colic cases
- •Ionised calcium (Ca2+) differed between horses that survived to discharge and those that did not
- •Regression models using these parameters demonstrated excellent or good predictive value for identifying likelihood of surgical management and survival to hospital discharge