Relationship between Doppler blood pressure and survival or response to treatment in critically ill cats: 83 cases (2003-2004).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between Doppler blood pressure (DBP) and survival or response to treatment in critically ill cats.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
83 cats.


METHODS
Medical records from cats admitted to the intensive care unit with at least 2 recorded DBP measurements were included in the study. Hypotension was defined as 1 or more DBP measurements d 90 mm Hg. Change in blood pressure, survival to hospital discharge, heart rate, rectal temperature, PCV, plasma pH, serum ionized calcium concentration, disease process, body weight, age, duration of hospitalization, and catecholamine treatment were also evaluated.


RESULTS
39 cats were included in the hypotensive group, and 44 were consistently normotensive. Overall survival rate was 53% (44/83), with a significantly higher mortality rate in the hypotensive group (64% vs 32%). Among other variables, only low rectal temperature and low PCV were significantly associated with hypotension. Hypotensive cats with an increase in blood pressure of >or=20 mm Hg during hospitalization were more likely to survive to discharge (mortality rate, 69% vs 17%).


CONCLUSIONS
Hypotensive cats had increased mortality rate with lower rectal temperatures and lower PCV, compared with normotensive critically ill cats. The implications of these findings with regard to treatment remain to be elucidated, but addressing these abnormalities may be appropriate.
Silverstein
Deborah C
DC
Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Wininger
Fred A
FA
Shofer
Frances S
FS
King
Lesley G
LG
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D002415:Cats; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D007022:Hypotension / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis