Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Postoperative high sodium levels common and risky in dogs
By Brunori, Lara et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2023·VetsNow 24/7 Pet Emergency & Specialty Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Occurrence and clinical relevance of postoperative hypernatremia in dogs undergoing cholecystectomy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 37 dogs that had gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) were monitored for high sodium levels in their blood after the procedure. It was found that more than half of these dogs developed high sodium levels, which was linked to a higher chance of not surviving compared to those with normal sodium levels. Dogs that showed high sodium levels within six hours after surgery were particularly at risk, and those with sodium levels above 160 mEq/L did not survive. This highlights the importance of monitoring sodium levels closely after gallbladder surgery in dogs to improve outcomes.
People also search for: dog gallbladder surgery complications · high sodium levels in dogs after surgery · dog postoperative care cholecystectomy
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing cholecystectomy have not been reported previously to develop clinically relevant postoperative hypernatremia. OBJECTIVES: Describe the frequency of postoperative hypernatremia in dogs undergoing cholecystectomy and its clinical relevance (duration of hospitalization and survival). ANIMALS: Thirty-seven dogs undergoing cholecystectomy at 2 private referral hospitals. METHODS: Retrospective study of dogs undergoing cholecystectomy with available preoperative and postoperative serum sodium concentrations. RESULTS: Postoperative hypernatremia (>150 mEq/L) was common (56%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 40%-70%) and was associated with significantly higher mortality compared to nonhypernatremic patients (52%; 95% CI, 30%-70% vs 12.5%; 95% CI, 2%-40%; P = .02). Nonsurvivors had higher mean postoperative peak serum sodium concentrations (155 mEq/L; range, 146-172) than survivors (150 mEq/L; range, 142-156; P = .01). Dogs developing hypernatremia within 6 hours after surgery had 7.7 higher odds of nonsurvival (odds ratio [OR], 7.7; 95% CI, 5.9-9.4). A delta value (serum sodium concentration on admission [T0] - serum sodium concentration 6 hours postoperatively [T2]) of ≥10 mEq/L carried 3.3 higher odds of mortality (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.6-5.1). All dogs with a postoperative peak sodium concentration >160 mEq/L did not survive. Admission acute patient physiologic laboratory evaluation fast (APPLE) scores were not different between survivors and nonsurvivors or between postoperative hypernatremic and normonatremic patients. Hospitalization time was no different between hypernatremic and normonatremic patients (6 days vs 4.5 days; P = .15). Dogs with gallbladder mucocele were more likely to develop postoperative hypernatremia and have poorer outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Hypernatremia was a common and clinically relevant postoperative complication in dogs after cholecystectomy. Detection of hypernatremia within 6 hours after surgery may be associated with poorer outcomes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37682033/