Plasma arginine vasopressin concentration in horses undergoing surgery for colic.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if horses before undergoing anesthesia for surgical correction of colic would have lower plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations than healthy horses undergoing anesthesia for arthroscopic surgery, and would not increase their plasma AVP concentrations in response to anesthesia and surgery.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
Fourteen horses with colic and 8 healthy horses.


METHODS
Horses with colic underwent anesthesia and surgery for alleviation of colic, and healthy horses underwent anesthesia and surgery for arthroscopy.


RESULTS
Plasma AVP was measured perioperatively in horses with colic and in healthy horses. Before anesthesia, and 30 and 60 minutes after induction, horses with colic had greater median plasma AVP concentrations than control horses (P<or=0.001); thereafter during anesthesia differences in AVP concentrations between the 2 groups were not significant. In the control group, plasma AVP concentration increased during 120 minutes of anesthesia; no such increase occurred in colic horses.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with healthy horses, horses with colic had higher preanesthesia plasma AVP concentrations that did not increase further in response to anesthesia and surgery. Exogenous AVP is associated with decreased splanchnic perfusion in a variety of animal species and, therefore, could be detrimental to horses with colic. Thus, it may be inappropriate to use exogenous AVP in support of blood pressure in anesthetized horses with colic. Further studies are warranted to define appropriate indications for the use of AVP in horses with colic.
Ludders
John W
JW
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. jwl1@cornell.edu
Palos
Hanna-Maaria
HM
Erb
Hollis N
HN
Lamb
Stephen V
SV
Vincent
Stella E
SE
Gleed
Robin D
RD
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000097:blood*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003085:Colic / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D006736:Horses; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001127:Arginine Vasopressin