Reference values for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in clinically healthy cats.

OBJECTIVE: To establish reference intervals for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) using feline blood. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Twenty-three clinically healthy cats between 1 and 15 years. INTERVENTION: For each cat, whole blood was collected via jugular or medial saphenous venipuncture, and blood was placed into a serum tube, a tube containing potassium-EDTA, and tubes containing 3.2% sodium citrate. The tubes were maintained at 37°C for a maximum of 30 minutes before coagulation testing. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: ROTEM tests included the EXTEM, INTEM, FIBTEM, and APTEM assays. In addition, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and fibrinogen concentration (Clauss method) were analyzed for each cat. Reference intervals for ROTEM were calculated using the 2.5-97.5th percentile for each parameter, and correlation with the standard coagulation profile was performed. Compared to people, clinically healthy cats had similar values for the EXTEM and INTEM assays, but had lower plasma fibrinogen concentrations (0.9-2.2 g/L), resulting in weaker maximum clot firmness (MCF, 3-10 mm) in the FIBTEM test. In 18 cats, maximum lysis (ML) values in the APTEM test were higher than in the EXTEM test, which seems unlikely to have occurred in the presence of aprotinin. It is possible that the observed high maximum lysis values were due to clot retraction rather than true clot lysis. Further studies will be required to test this hypothesis. CONCLUSIONS: Cats have a weaker clot in the FIBTEM test, but have a similar clot strength to human blood in the other ROTEM assays, which may be due to a stronger contribution of platelets compared to that found in people. In cats, careful interpretation of the results to diagnose hyperfibrinolysis is advised, especially with the APTEM test, until further data are available.

Determination of reference intervals and comparison of venous blood gas parameters using standard and non-standard collection methods in 24 cats.

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine in-house reference intervals (RIs) for venous blood analysis with the RAPIDPoint 500 blood gas analyser using blood gas syringes (BGSs) and to determine whether immediate analysis of venous blood collected into lithium heparin (LH) tubes can replace anaerobic blood sampling into BGSs. Methods Venous blood was collected from 24 healthy cats and directly transferred into a BGS and an LH tube. The BGS was immediately analysed on the RAPIDPoint 500 followed by the LH tube. The BGSs and LH tubes were compared using paired t-test or Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test, Bland-Altman and Passing-Bablok analysis. To assess clinical relevance, bias or percentage bias between BGSs and LH tubes was compared with the allowable total error (TEa) recommended for the respective parameter. Results Based on the values obtained from the BGSs, RIs were calculated for the evaluated parameters, including blood gases, electrolytes, glucose and lactate. Values derived from LH tubes showed no significant difference for standard bicarbonate, whole blood base excess, haematocrit, total haemoglobin, sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose and lactate, while pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide and oxygen, actual bicarbonate, extracellular base excess, ionised calcium and anion gap were significantly different to the samples collected in BGSs ( P <0.05). Furthermore, pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide and oxygen, extracellular base excess, ionised calcium and anion gap exceeded the recommended TEa. Conclusions and relevance Assessment of actual and standard bicarbonate, whole blood base excess, haematocrit, total haemoglobin, sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose and lactate can be made based on blood collected in LH tubes and analysed within 5 mins. For pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide and oxygen, extracellular base excess, anion gap and ionised calcium the clinically relevant alterations have to be considered if analysed in LH tubes.

Regional distribution of ventilation in horses in dorsal recumbency during spontaneous and mechanical ventilation assessed by electrical impedance tomography: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the regional distribution of ventilation in horses during spontaneous breathing and controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) using electrical impedance tomography (EIT). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, experimental case series. ANIMALS: Four anaesthetized experimental horses. METHODS: Horses were anaesthetized with isoflurane in an oxygen-air mixture and medetomidine continuous rate infusion, placed in dorsal recumbency with an EIT belt around the thorax, and allowed to breathe spontaneously until PaCO2 reached 13.3 kPa (100 mmHg), when volume CMV was started. For each horse, the EIT signal was recorded for at least 2 minutes immediately before (T1), and at 30 (n = 3) or 60 (n = 1) minutes after the start of CMV (T2). The centre of ventilation (CoV), dependent silent spaces (DSS) (likely to represent atelectatic lung areas), non-dependent silent spaces (NSS) (likely to represent lung areas with low ventilation) and total ventilated area (TVA) were evaluated. Cardiac output (CO) was measured and venous admixture and oxygen delivery (DO2) were calculated at T1 and T2. Data are presented as median and range. RESULTS: After the initiation of CMV, the CoV moved ventrally towards the non-dependent lung by 10% [from 57.4% (49.6-60.2%) to 48.3% (41.9-54.4%)]. DSS increased [from 4.1% (0.2-13.9%) to 18.7% (7.5-27.5%)], while NSS [21.7% (9.4-29.2%) to 9.9% (1.0-20.7%)] and TVA [920 (699-1051) to 837 (662-961) pixels] decreased. CO, venous admixture and DO2 also decreased. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In spontaneously breathing anaesthetized horses in dorsal recumbency, ventilation was essentially centred within the dependent dorsal lung regions and moved towards non-dependent ventral regions as soon as CMV was started. This shows a major lack of ventilation in the dependent lung, which may be indicative of atelectasis.

The use of dexmedetomidine continuous rate infusion for horses undergoing transvenous electrical cardioversion--A case series.

Five horses were presented for treatment of atrial fibrillation by transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC). A dexmedetomidine infusion was administered for sedation during positioning of the cardioversion catheters, and continued during general anesthesia. Shocks were applied until return to sinus rhythm. Dexmedetomidine infusion provided excellent conditions for TVEC catheter placement and procedure.

Utilisation d'une perfusion continue de dexmedetomidine lors de cardioversion électrique transveineuse chez le cheval: une série de cas. Cinq chevaux présentant une fibrillation atriale ont été traités par cardioversion éléctrique transveineuse (TVEC). Pour le positionnement des cathéters de cardioversion, les chevaux ont reçu une perfusion de dexmédétomidine, poursuivie pendant l'anesthésie générale. Les chocs éléctriques sont répétés jusqu'au retour en rythme sinusal. La perfusion de dexmédétomidine a fourni d'excellentes conditions pour le positionnement des cathéters et la procédure de TVEC.(Traduit par les auteurs).