Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ionized low calcium in septic dogs linked to survival and hospital
By Luschini, Maureen A et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2010·Department of Emergency and Critical Care, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Incidence of ionized hypocalcemia in septic dogs and its association with morbidity and mortality: 58 cases (2006-2007).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 58 septic dogs was studied to see how low calcium levels in their blood (ionized hypocalcemia) affected their chances of recovery. The results showed that dogs with low calcium levels had a higher risk of dying or being euthanized compared to those that survived. Specifically, 67% of the dogs that died had low calcium levels, while only 15% of the dogs that survived had the same issue. The study suggests that low calcium levels are linked to more severe illness and longer hospital stays, indicating that monitoring and treating low calcium could be important for septic dogs' recovery.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence rate and prognostic significance of ionized hypocalcemia (iHCa) among septic dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Veterinary teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Fifty-eight septic dogs that were presented to Cornell University Hospital for Animals between January 2006 and December 2007. PROCEDURE: Cases were diagnosed with sepsis if they exhibited 2 or more criteria of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome with a concurrent documented infectious focus. Cases were excluded if diagnosed with a concurrent illness reportedly associated with calcium derangements. Lowest, mean, and highest blood ionized calcium concentrations were recorded and statistically analyzed for an association with morbidity, as measured by duration of hospitalization and number of blood product transfusions, and outcome. In addition, the incidence rate of iHCa was recorded. RESULTS: Of the 58 cases included in this study, iHCa was documented in 4 of 6 (67%) patients that died, 5 of 19 (26%) euthanized patients and 5 of 33 (15%) patients that survived to discharge, with an overall incidence of 24%. Dogs that died during hospitalization had more severe iHCa than patients that were discharged or euthanized as well as significantly lower mean ionized calcium concentrations than patients who were discharged. Severity of iHCa was also associated with a longer duration of hospitalization. The highest ionized calcium concentration was not associated with outcome. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study is the first to document the incidence of iHCa among septic dogs. Because both low mean ionized calcium and the lowest documented ionized calcium concentration are associated with poor outcome, it is likely that both the severity and duration of hypocalcemia are important in these patients. Further prospective studies investigating the prognostic significance, etiology and treatment of iHCa among septic veterinary patients are needed to better understand its role in sepsis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20731806/