title: Hepatic and metabolic changes in surgical colic patients: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine: (1) changes in blood ammonia, bile acid (BA), bilirubin, triglyceride, and glucose concentrations and liver enzyme activities in perioperative colic patients and (2) the association between these laboratory findings and short-term survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two adult horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood samples were collected preoperatively and at 24-36 and 72-84 hours postoperatively and analyzed for blood ammonia, BA, bilirubin, triglyceride, and glucose concentrations and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities. Short-term survival was defined as survival to hospital discharge. Data were analyzed using a Fisher's exact test and analysis of variance. Mildly increased blood ammonia concentrations were present in 2 horses at admission. Postoperative blood ammonia concentrations were within reference intervals in all horses. There were increases in liver enzyme activities as well as in BA, triglyceride, and total bilirubin concentrations. Horses with markedly increased admission BA concentrations and SDH activities did not survive. BA concentrations and SDH activities decreased postoperatively. There was no association between GGT activity and survival; GGT activity remained increased postoperatively. Blood triglyceride concentration was increased in almost all horses postoperatively; horses that did not survive had higher triglyceride concentrations at 24-36 hours postoperatively than horses that survived.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alterations in metabolism and hepatobiliary function are common in colic patients. The results of this study provide further prognostic indices for colic patients and highlight areas for improvement in patient management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: Louise L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Southwood
authors.forename: Raquel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003085:Colic / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006736:Horses; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides; D000641:Ammonia; D001663:Bilirubin