Disseminated intravascular coagulation in experimental intestinal strangulation obstruction in ponies

Total strangulation obstruction of the caudal part of the jejunum was induced in 3 groups (each of 3 ponies) for 2, 4, and 6 hours. Coagulation tests which included blood platelet counts, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, activated coagulation time, plasma fibrinogen level, and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products assay were performed at specified time intervals for 1 week or until death of the experimental ponies. Another 3 ponies (sham-operated) were similarly treated, except that intestinal strangulation obstruction (ISO) was not induced. Necropsy was done on ponies that were euthanatized 9 days after the sampling period and on 2 ponies that died. Six hours of ISO resulted in severe ischemic damage to the intestines, characterized by hemorrhagic infarction, with or without perforation, in ponies that died, and total loss of mucosa with moderate to severe fibrosis of the intestinal wall in the surviving pony of this group. This damage was associated with significant coagulopathies, notably prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, decreased blood platelets count, and the presence of high levels of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (40 micrograms/ml). These laboratory findings are indicative of disseminated intravascular coagulation. In contrast, the jejunal segments of the ponies subjected to 2 and 4 hours of ISO were viable as revealed by histopathologic examination. There were no significant changes found in their coagulation profiles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)