Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Admission clinicopathological data, length of stay, cost and mortality in an equine neonatal intensive care unit.
- Journal:
- Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
- Year:
- 2007
- Authors:
- Saulez, M N et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a study of 62 newborn horses (foals) admitted to a special care unit, researchers looked at various factors to predict how likely these foals were to survive. They found that certain blood test results, like white blood cell count and levels of certain chemicals, were different in foals that survived compared to those that didn't. The study showed that they could accurately predict survival in 84% of cases using a combination of these test results. Unfortunately, the overall death rate was 34%, with most deaths occurring within the first two days or on the sixth day of hospitalization. The costs of care were higher for foals that did not survive, but interestingly, the total costs were greater for those that did survive.
Abstract
Veterinary internists need to prognosticate patients quickly and accurately in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This may depend on laboratory data collected on admission, the cost of hospitalisation, length of stay (LOS) and mortality rate experienced in the NICU. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study of 62 equine neonates admitted to a NICU of a private equine referral hospital to determine the prognostic value of venous clinicopathological data collected on admission before therapy, the cost of hospitalisation, LOS and mortality rate. The WBC count, total CO2 (TCO2) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly higher (P < or = 0.05) and anion gap lower in survivors compared with nonsurvivors. A logistic regression model that included WBC count, hematocrit, albumin/globulin ratio, ALP, TCO2, potassium, sodium and lactate, was able to correctly predict mortality in 84% of cases. Only anion gap proved to be an independent predictor of neonatal mortality in this study. In the study population, the overall mortality rate was 34% with greatest mortality rates reported in the first 48 hours and again on day 6 of hospitalisation. Amongst the various clinical diagnoses, mortality was highest in foals after forced extraction during correction of dystocia. Median cost per day was higher for nonsurvivors while total cost was higher in survivors.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18237039/