Prognostic measurement for equines with colic

Colic syndrome is considered one of the main diseases in equine medicine due to the mortality involved. This alteration of the gastrointestinal tract, mainly ischemic, may cause changes in glucose and lactate values in blood and peritoneal fluid samples. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of glucose and lactate in peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid in horses with different etiologies and degrees of severity of colic. The time to presentation, type of colic, evolution, and treatment were also evaluated by clinical examination and surgical procedure. Hyperglycemia was observed in 66.6% of the cases and related to the need for surgical intervention. High concentrations of lactate in the peritoneal fluid were also observed in 66.6% of the animals, being a good indicator of prognosis. Small colon involvement with areas of necrosis appeared more frequently, and no such cases are successfully treated. Therefore, the measurement of serum glucose and the lactate in the peritoneal fluid may indicate, respectively, the need for surgery and prognosis in horses with colic.