Changes in Coagulation and Markers of Fibrinolysis in Horses Undergoing Colic Surgery*

Abstract

Activation of coagulation can be frequently found in horses with colic. However, it has also been demonstrated as a sequela of surgical trauma alone in humans. The purpose of the present study was to determine changes in coagulation and fibrinolysis in horses that underwent colic surgery and to evaluate whether these changes were secondary to the colic or the surgery and wound healing. Thirty horses that underwent colic surgery with uncomplicated recovery were included. Ten horses with a Forssell's procedure served as control group with a standardized surgical trauma. Besides daily physical examinations during the observation period of 10 days, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time and thrombin time as well as fibrin monomer (FM), D-Dimer (DD) and antithrombin (AT) III were determined. Compared with the control group the aPTT was the only standard coagulation test that was significantly prolonged before and after the event of colic surgery. After surgery, hyperfibrinogenaemia occurred in all groups. In colic groups FM and DD concentrations were within reference range at admission,and were significantly greater than in control horses after surgery. AT III activity decreased after colic surgery, but did not change in the control group. It was concluded that an activated coagulation state after colic surgery has to be expected, resulting not only from the colic disease, but also from the event of surgery.

Any use in proteomics for low-tech approaches? Detecting fibrinogen chains of different animal species in two-dimensional electrophoresis patterns

“…In veterinary clinical medicine, some of the topics recently investigated about fibrinogen in farm animals (cattle, horses, pigs, dogs, excluding for the latter two the use as models of human disease; source: PubMed database; period: 2004-09) include: changes related to estrous cycle, pregnancy and parturition [16][17][18][19], liver [20] and heart disease [21][22][23], elective and non-elective surgery [24,25], poisoning/envenomation [26][27][28][29][30], parasite infestation [31][32][33], viral infection [34,35]. The issue most often on focus is however, by far, bacterial infection -especially in respiratory diseases [34,[36][37][38][39][40][41] -and such of its short-or long-term sequelae as septic shock with coagulopathy [42][43][44][45], laminitis [46], or osteomyelitis [47].…”

Severe phenylephrine-associated hemorrhage in five aged horses

“…4,5 Phenylephrine acts on α 1 -adrenergic receptors to cause systemic vasoconstriction and splenic contraction. 16,17 Blood samples for laboratory testing aimed at diagnosing underlying clotting disorders such as hypo-or hypercoagulability, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and hyperfibrinolysis were submitted in 2 of 5 horses in the present report, and results were found to be within the reference range. 6,7 Rare complications of phenylephrine administra-tion in humans include severe hypertension, pulmonary edema, and death.…”

Postoperative Hemostasis Monitoring and Management

“…These patients also displayed a decreased platelet count, von Willebrand factor activity, and factor VIII activity after surgery, with no significant differences between the 2 surgical groups. [26][27][28][29] The decreases in platelet count and factor activities are likely caused by consumption from perioperative coagulation needs. Another study in dogs after ovariohysterectomy described significantly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), elevated fibrinogen and D-dimer concentrations, and lower AT activity 24 hours after surgery, which may also represent consumption and healing.…”