Outcome of horses with enterocolitis receiving oncotic fluid support with either plasma or hetastarch

The objective of this study was to determine whether there was an association between type of colloid administered and survival of horses with enterocolitis (N = 92). A retrospective review of medical records of horses with enterocolitis treated with plasma or hetastarch (HES) between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011 was performed. Data collected included signalment, outcome, physical and clinicopathologic findings, and volume and type of colloid administered. Sixty-nine horses (75%) were treated with plasma and 23 horses (25%) were treated with HES. After accounting for confounding variables, horses treated with plasma (80% survival) were more likely to survive to discharge than horses treated with HES (47% survival; P = 0.041) despite similar disease severity at admission. This study provides support that use of natural colloids may be superior to treatment with synthetic colloids in horses with enterocolitis. A prospective, multi-center trial comparing outcome of critically ill equine patients treated with natural or synthetic colloids is warranted.