title: Ionized calcium concentration in horses with surgically managed gastrointestinal disease: 147 cases (1988-1990).
abstract: Packed cell volume, total plasma protein, serum sodium, potassium, and ionized Ca2+ concentrations, and blood pH were determined at the time of admission and following surgery in 147 horses with acute abdominal crisis. Horses were allotted to 3 categories on the basis of the surgical lesion: (1) nonstrangulating obstruction of the ascending or descending colon (category A, n = 76), (2) strangulating and nonstrangulating infarction of the cecum or ascending colon (category B, n = 37), and (3) strangulating and nonstrangulating infarction of the small intestine (category C, n = 25). Horses with low serum ionized Ca2+ concentration following surgery were given 23% calcium gluconate (100 to 300 ml) IV to effect, and ionized Ca2+ concentration was determined following treatment. The serum ionized Ca2+ concentrations of horses in categories A, B, and C before and after surgery were lower than our normal laboratory reference range. Prior to surgery, serum ionized Ca2+ concentration measured from horses in category B and C was lower than that in horses in category A. There was no difference in ionized Ca2+ concentration in serum samples obtained before surgery in horses from category B and C, and in serum samples obtained following surgery. There was a decrease in ionized Ca2+ concentration during surgery in horses in category A. There was no change between preoperative and postoperative ionized Ca2+ concentration in the samples obtained from horses in category B and C. After calcium gluconate administration, all horses with low serum ionized Ca2+ after surgery had concentrations within our normal range. Measurement of serum ionized Ca2+ in horses with an acute abdominal crisis is recommended.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dart
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Spier
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002125:Calcium Gluconate; D002118:Calcium