Arterial Blood Gas and Electrolyte Analysis Predicts Survival in Horses with Colic

A recent study evaluated whether arterial blood samples taken upon admission could predict survival to hospital discharge for horses presenting with colic. The study, which included 358 horses undergoing medical or surgical management for colic, analyzed several blood parameters, including pH, oxygen levels (PaO2), carbon dioxide (PaCO2), electrolytes, and anion gaps, across different types of colic lesions.

The results indicated that certain blood parameters were significantly associated with survival, depending on the type of colic. For small intestinal non-strangulating lesions (SINS), PaO2 levels were predictive of survival, while in strangulating small intestinal lesions (SIS), both PaO2 and sodium levels (Na+) were important predictors. For large colon non-volvulus (LCNV), calcium levels (Ca2+) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) were significant, while in large colon volvulus (LCV), PaCO2 was a key predictor.

The study found that the arterial blood tests showed excellent sensitivity (91%-100%) for predicting survival, but their specificity was lower (8%-50%), meaning they were less accurate in identifying horses that would not survive to discharge. The study concluded that while arterial blood analysis is a useful tool for predicting survival based on colic type, its ability to predict non-survival is less reliable.

Read full study here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vms3.70210