Hepatic and metabolic changes in surgical colic patients: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Equine Surgery
• Clinical Pathology

Background:

• Colic is a common emergency in horses, often requiring surgical intervention.
• Understanding perioperative metabolic and hepatobiliary changes is crucial for prognosis.
• Previous studies have not fully elucidated the prognostic value of specific biomarkers in colic patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in blood ammonia, bile acids (BA), bilirubin, triglyceride, and glucose, and liver enzyme activities in horses with colic undergoing surgery.
• To determine the association between these laboratory findings and short-term survival after colic surgery.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study involving 32 adult horses with colic undergoing exploratory celiotomy.
• Blood samples were collected preoperatively and at 24-36 and 72-84 hours postoperatively.
• Analysis included blood ammonia, BA, bilirubin, triglyceride, glucose, sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT).

Main Results:

• Postoperative increases in liver enzymes, BA, total bilirubin, and triglyceride concentrations were observed.
• Markedly increased admission BA concentrations and SDH activities were associated with non-survival.
• Higher triglyceride concentrations at 24-36 hours postoperatively were found in non-surviving horses.
• Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity showed no association with survival but remained elevated postoperatively.

Conclusions:

• Metabolic and hepatobiliary dysfunction are frequent in horses with colic.
• Elevated admission bile acids, SDH activity, and early postoperative triglyceride levels serve as prognostic indicators for short-term survival.
• These findings can aid in managing colic patients and improving patient outcomes.