Complications in the Critically Ill Equine Patient

Complications in critically ill equine patients are often related to the underlying disease process but can also be a consequence of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Complications can be specific to the affected organ or body system; however, in critically ill patients, they frequently affect the vasculature, acid-base, electrolyte, and fluid balance, energy homeostasis, and coagulation, with systemic consequences. Infrequent monitoring, late detection, failure to adapt therapies, hematologic and biochemical abnormalities, coagulopathies, and systemic inflammation can all contribute to processes that worsen the prognosis. Reducing the impact of complications through accurate clinical evaluations as well as a good understanding of physiology, pathophysiology, data interpretation, and therapeutics ultimately improve the outcome of the critically ill equine patient.