Acute phase response to surgery of varying intensity in horses: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the postoperative inflammatory response of horses to elective surgery of varying intensity.


METHODS
Prospective longitudinal study.


METHODS
Horses referred to 2 hospitals for either arthroscopic removal of a unilateral osteochondritic lesion in the tibiotarsal joint (minimal surgical trauma, n=11), correction of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy by laryngoplasty and ventriculectomy (intermediate surgical trauma, n=10) or removal of an ovarian tumor by laparotomy (major surgical trauma, n=5).


METHODS
Horses had a thorough clinical examination every day. White blood cell (WBC) counts and concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), fibrinogen, and iron were assessed in blood samples obtained before, and 1-3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 days after surgery. Differences in levels of the inflammatory markers between the 3 surgical groups were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA.


RESULTS
Postoperative concentrations of SAA and fibrinogen were significantly higher in horses that had laparotomy and ovariectomy than in horses that had laryngoplasty and ventriculectomy, or arthroscopy. Iron concentrations decreased to lower levels after intermediate and major surgical trauma than after small surgical trauma. WBC count did not differ between the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of SAA, fibrinogen, and iron reflected the intensity of the surgical trauma, whereas WBC count did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative measurements of SAA, fibrinogen, and iron may be useful for comparing surgical trauma associated with new and established surgical techniques. Moreover, knowledge of the normal postoperative acute phase response is essential, if acute phase reactants are to be used for monitoring occurrence of postoperative infections.
Jacobsen
Stine
S
Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark. stj@life.ku.dk
Nielsen
Jon Vedding
JV
Kjelgaard-Hansen
Mads
M
Toelboell
Trine
T
Fjeldborg
Julie
J
Halling-Thomsen
Maj
M
Martinussen
Torben
T
Thoefner
Martin Bang
MB
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*
D015415:Biomarkers; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D005340:Fibrinogen; D007501:Iron