Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Abdominal fluid score predicts blood transfusion in injured cats
By Langlois, Theresa J et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2025·Emergency and Critical Care Department, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Abdominal fluid score as a predictor of transfusion needs and outcome in cats following trauma.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats that suffered trauma and had fluid in their abdomen were found to have a higher risk of needing blood transfusions and a greater chance of dying compared to those without abdominal fluid. Out of 148 cats with abdominal effusion, 16% required transfusions, while only 4% of the other 2,161 cats did. These cats also had more severe injuries, indicated by higher trauma scores, and were more likely to need hospitalization. Unfortunately, the presence of abdominal fluid was linked to a higher mortality rate, with nearly 43% of affected cats not surviving.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of the abdominal fluid score (AFS) in cats following trauma in determining surgical needs, transfusion needs, and mortality. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective observational study utilizing data from the Veterinary Committee on Trauma (VetCOT) registry. SETTING: VetCOT Veterinary Trauma Centers. ANIMALS: A total of 2309 cats entered into the VetCOT registry between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2020, were included. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the included cats, 148 had abdominal effusion on presentation (AFS 1-4, positive AFS [pAFS]). pAFS cats demonstrated a lower total plasma protein (6.2 g/dL, range: 2.8-9.2 g/dL vs 6.8 g/dL, range: 2.6-11 g/dL, P < 0.001) and a more negative base excess (BE) (-9, range: -23.7 to 10 vs -6.1, range: -31.7 to 1, P = 0.001) than cats without abdominal effusion (negative AFS [nAFS]). pAFS cats also had a higher baseline Animal Trauma Triage score (ATTS) than nAFS cats (5, range 0-12 vs 3, range 0-17, respectively, P < 0.001). pAFS cats were more likely to require blood transfusions (16% [23/148] vs 4% [94/2161], P < 0.001) than nAFS cats, but need for surgical intervention did not differ between groups. A pAFS was associated with increased need for hospitalization (62.8% [93/148] vs 47.7% [1030/2160], P < 0.001), but length of hospital stay did not differ. Cats with pAFS experienced higher mortality compared to nAFS cats (42.6% [63/148] vs 22.7% [491/2161], P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The presence of abdominal effusion in cats following trauma was associated with increased morbidity in this study, as demonstrated by greater need for transfusion, increased likelihood of hospitalization, and greater mortality. Cats in the pAFS group had more negative BE and higher ATTS, but need for surgery, length of hospitalization, PCV, and blood glucose, plasma lactate, and ionized calcium concentrations were not different between groups.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39840657/