Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to explore if blood lactate levels are increased in bitches with pyometra, and if the lactate measurement could be used as a prognostic indicator and to determine outcome. The present study
included 16 bitches with pyometra that were admitted to the University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. For comparison, a control group consisting of 14 healthy staffowned
bitches was also evaluated. In all bitches, a physical examination was performed and blood samples for analysis of haematological and biochemical parameters were obtained. In all bitches with pyometra, surgical ovariohysterectomy was performed and a uterine sample for bacteriological culture and identification was collected. The diagnosis pyometra was subsequently confirmed by post-surgical pathological
examination.

In conclusion, there was no significant difference in the preoperative blood lactate levels between bitches with pyometra and healthy control bitches.

Increased blood lactate levels were not associated with longer hospitalization. According to the results of the present pilot study, a single preoperative lactate measurement is not a valuable prognostic marker for
pyometra bitches in general. If the present study had included a larger number of bitches or the selected individuals been more severely affected by their disease, at least a few patients with distinctly increased blood lactate levels could have been expected. Still, lactate analysis is probably valuable for prognosis, optimizing treatment and monitoring of the individual patient
where extraordinary levels are demonstrated. The value of repeated lactate measurement for those patients still remains to be evaluated.