Peri-anaesthetic and anaesthetic-related mortality risks in great apes (Hominidae) in zoological collections in the UK and Ireland

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of death and identify the major risk factors for peri-anaesthetic mortality in great apes (Hominidae) that underwent anaesthesia in zoological collections in the UK and Ireland between 1 January 1990 and 30 June 2005. STUDY DESIGN: confidential, retrospective cohort study. ANIMAL POPULATION: The study population comprised all great apes from 16 zoological collections in the UK and Ireland that were anaesthetised during that period. METHODS: All available anaesthetic records were collected. Outcome at 7 days post-anaesthesia was recorded as alive, dead or euthanased. The risk of peri-anaesthetic mortality was calculated. Multivariable analysis of potential risk factors was performed. RESULTS: A total of 1182 anaesthetic records were collected and analysed. Sixteen peri-anaesthetic deaths occurred, resulting in a peri-anaesthetic mortality risk of 1.35%. Twenty percent of deaths (3/15) occurred during maintenance and 80% (12/15) occurred post-anaesthetic but within 7 days. A subjective assessment suggests at least five anaesthetic-related deaths occurred; in other words an anaesthetic-related mortality risk of 0.42% (5/1182) or above. In the multivariable analysis, health status and age were significantly associated with peri-anaesthetic mortality. Animals assessed as 'sick' pre-anaesthetic were associated with a 26-fold (95% CI 5.55-122.32) increased risk of death compared with animals with a good health status. Animals aged over 30 years were associated with a 30-fold (95% CI 3.44-261.85) increased risk of death, compared with adults aged between 10 and 30 years. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study has shown that great ape anaesthesia appears to carry a high risk of mortality. Sick and aged patients are at an increased risk of death and particular care should be exercised during their anaesthesia. Standardisation and completeness of anaesthetic records across zoological collections would assist greatly in further studies.     

Risk factors associated with the incidence of foal mortality in an extensively managed mare herd.

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of neonatal mortality in a large, extensively managed mare herd and what risk factors were involved in foal mortality. For a 6 wk period between April 18, 1994, and May 31, 1994, 334 foals were born, of which 74 died before reaching 10 d of age, giving an overall mortality of 22% for this period. Seventy four percent of the foal deaths occurred within 48 h of parturition. The major causes of foal mortality included starvation/exposure 27%, septicemia 26%, and dystocia 20%. Weekly incidences varied significantly, ranging from 67% for week 1 to 14% for week 5 (P < 0.01). Other risk factors that were associated with foal death included failure of passive transfer (P < 0.0001), poor mothering ability (P < 0.0001), the presence of dystocia (P < 0.0001), low birth weight (p < 0.05), lack of rainfall (P < 0.01), and low temperatures (P < 0.1). The effect of sire, mare age, mare body condition, and foal sex were not significant risk factors for foal survival (P > 0.1). Further studies are required to determine if changing management procedures will be effective in reducing the incidence of neonatal foal mortality in this extensively managed herd.     

Risk factors for an acute expression of Epizootic Rabbit Enteropathy syndrome in rabbits after weaning in French kindling-to-finish farms

Epizootic Rabbit Enteropathy (ERE) is a severe clinical syndrome of rabbits causing high economic losses for farmers. ERE first appeared in France in 1996. A retrospective case–control survey was carried out to identify the risk factors of acute expression of ERE, after weaning, in 96 kindling-to-finish rabbit farms in western France during 2001 and 2002. Farm status was defined according to the expression of clinical signs of ERE and mortality rates in the last five broiler rabbit batches. Comparisons of structural characteristics, rearing conditions and herd management showed that the risk factors for acute ERE expression were late weaning (rabbit age at weaning ≥ 35 days, RR = 4.44, 95% CI [1.36–21.71]), transfer of young rabbits at weaning (young rabbit transfer or combined practice RR = 2.83, 95% CI [1.16–9.33]), and high volume of the fattening room (air volume/rabbit weight in fattening room at weaning ≥ 0.14m³/kg, RR = 2.98, 95% CI [1.29–8.42]) and a high mortality rate in young rabbits before weaning (i.e. rate ≥ 10.5%; RR = 2.18, 95% CI [1.20–3.53]).     

Analysis of mortality pattern among indigenous and upgraded pigs under subtropical hill agro climatic conditions in eastern Himalayas

Mortality records of indigenous and upgraded pigs, reared under subtropical hill agro climatic conditions, were collected for the period of 11 years (1993–2003), analyzed and the mortality pattern was correlated with genetic group, age of pigs, climatic factors and causes of death. Results revealed that there was significant (p < 0.05) difference in mortality between the indigenous (6.05%) and upgraded (5.64%) pigs. The mortality percentage was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in both genetic groups between 0 and 4 months of age compared to seven months and above age groups. Among different seasons, significantly (p < 0.05) higher mortality was observed during post-monsoon and winter compared to other seasons. The overall mortality percentage was 4.74, 5.25, 7.51 and 6.56 during pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon and winter seasons, respectively. Indigenous pigs recorded significantly (p < 0.05) higher pre-weaning mortality (14.26%) than the upgraded (9.58%) pigs. Among different causes, digestive disorders accounted to significantly (p < 0.05) higher mortality followed by miscellaneous and respiratory disorders. The study developed a linear regression model, which could fairly predict the mortality pattern based on the rainfall, relative humidity and temperature (R² = 58.3%).     

The Genetics of Mortality and Survival of Broiler Chicks Infected as Embryos by Subgroup A Rous Sarcoma Virus

A study using two high-performance broiler lines, a synthetic male line (SML) and a synthetic dam line (SDL), was undertaken to investigate the pattern of mortality due to induced liver tumours (LT) and the immune response to subgroup A virus inoculated via the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) route. The distribution patterns of the four possible phenotypes were similar in both sire and dam lines. The occurrence of conversely associated phenotypes was about 30% in both the lines. The percentages of CAM(+) LT(–) and CAM(–) LT(+) were 14.26% and 14.46% in the dam line and 20.0% and 9.57% in the male line. The LT mortality was 30–50% in the birds with low pock counts, whereas it was 80–93% in the birds with high pock counts. The group specific antigen shedding status did not influence death due to LT. In birds in the high pock count group, 98% of deaths due to LT were completed by the sixth week, whereas in those in the low pock count group, death due to LT was spread over 24 weeks. The SDL birds survived better than SML birds in the high pock count groups. In both lines, about 20% of deaths occurred owing to non-specific causes. The average survival time after hatching before death from LT was 26 days, whereas that for non-specific death was 81 days.     

Prevalence of Electrolyte Disturbances and Perianesthetic Death Risk Factors in 120 Horses Undergoing Colic Surgery

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of intraoperative electrolyte disturbances and risk factors associated with perianesthetic death in horses undergoing colic surgery. The files of 120 horses meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Data retrieved from the medical records, including demographic data and the occurrence of electrolyte disturbances and other intraoperative complications, were analyzed with a two step-approach by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Hypocalcemia was the most represented electrolyte disturbance (52.5%), followed by hypokalemia (30.0%) that was associated with intraoperative administration of salbutamol (P = .045). Perianesthetic death occurred in 46 horses, accounting for an overall mortality rate of 38.3%. Risk factors associated with death were anesthetic duration (P = .001), body weight (P = .020), presence of gastric reflux before anesthesia (P = .021), and intraoperative tachycardia (P = .043) and acidosis (P = .025). The mortality in the study population was comparable to previously reported findings. Based on the study findings, it is advisable to optimize hemodynamics prior to anesthesia, in order to prevent intraoperative tachycardia that is associated with increased risk of death. Heavier horses and those with gastric reflux may have a higher risk of fatalities, and intraoperative salbutamol administration may contribute to hypokalemia.     

Mortality and recovery of runt white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in a commercial farm in California, USA

We investigated the effect of raising runt white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) separately from dominant fish during the initial stages of grow-out in a commercial farm. Runt fish are poor-growers, have underdeveloped muscle mass, swim slowly and are more-frequently found at the top of the water column. The objective of the study was to describe the mortality and recovery rates (and their determinants) of white-sturgeon runts after separating them from dominant fish. Runt white sturgeon were stocked into twelve 2 m × 2 m rectangular tanks and graded periodically during a follow-up of 46–102 days. Overall mortality rates ranged from 0.3 to 7 dead fish per 1000 sturgeon-days at risk and overall recovery rates from 3.9 to 13.5 recovered fish per 1000 sturgeon-days at risk. Period-specific mortality and recovery rates increased over time. The period-specific mortality rates for all three periods were significantly higher for tanks of runts originating from grow-out tanks with high mortality (p-values: first period = 0.06; second period = 0.09; third period = 0.03), but were similar for tanks of runts of high- and low-mean initial weight. The period-specific recovery rates were significantly higher in runts originating from high-mortality grow-out tanks only for the third period (p = 0.05) but not the first and second periods (p-values = 0.33 and 0.25, respectively). Recovery rates were significantly higher in the higher-mean-weight runts tanks for the first and third period but not for the second (p-values: first period = 0.02; second period = 0.65; third period = 0.06). We concluded that the proportion of runts that recover during a 46–89 day period is substantial (16–58%); therefore, it might be worthwhile growing such fish separately in a fish farm for about three months. Financial analysis showed that this practice was profitable, if the value of white sturgeon fish for the farm exceeded $2.05 per kg.     

Back-calculation method shows that within-flock transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H7N7) virus in the Netherlands is not influenced by housing risk factors

To optimize control of an avian influenza outbreak knowledge of within-flock transmission is needed. This study used field data to estimate the transmission rate parameter (β) and the influence of risk factors on within-flock transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H7N7 virus in the 2003 epidemic in The Netherlands. The estimation is based on back-calculation of daily mortality data to fit a susceptible-infectious-dead format, and these data were analysed with a generalized linear model. This back-calculation method took into account the uncertainty of the length of the latent period, the survival of an infection by some birds and the influence of farm characteristics. After analysing the fit of the different databases created by back-calculation, it could be concluded that an absence of the latency period provided the best fit. The transmission rate parameter (β) from these field data was estimated at 4.50 per infectious chicken per day (95% CI: 2.68–7.57), which was lower than what was reported from experimental data. In contrast to general belief, none of the studied risk factors (housing system, flock size, species, age of the birds in weeks and date of depopulation) had significant influence on the estimated β.     

Risk factors associated with short‐term mortality and recurrence of status epilepticus in dogs

BackgroundStatus epilepticus (SE) is an emergency associated with serious consequences for both patient and owner. Data regarding risk factors for short‐term mortality or recurrence in dogs with SE is limited.ObjectiveIdentify risk factors associated with short‐term mortality (euthanasia or spontaneous death) and recurrence of SE in dogs.AnimalsOne hundred twenty‐four client‐owned dogs that sustained an episode of SE.MethodsRetrospective multicenter study using data collected from medical records of dogs presented in SE to the contributing institutions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed using a manual backwards stepwise approach to identify risk factors associated with short‐term mortality and recurrence of SE after discharge.ResultsShort‐term mortality for affected dogs was 29.8%. Factors significantly associated with short‐term mortality included increased patient age, shorter duration of hospitalization, development of SE before arrival, and SE caused by a potentially fatal etiology. Status epilepticus recurred in 27% of dogs that survived to discharge. Factors significantly associated with recurrence of SE included prior history of pharmacoresistant epilepsy and predominance of a focal seizure phenotype.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceOur results may be used to inform clinicians and dog owners regarding risk factors for both short‐term mortality and recurrence in dogs with SE.     

Avian anaesthesia related mortality and the associated risk factors in a UK zoological collection

ObjectiveTo analyse avian anaesthesia-related mortality in a UK zoological collection over a 5-year period and identify risk factors for mortality.Study designRetrospective cohort study.AnimalsA total of 135 individual birds across 37 species, anaesthetized during 206 events in a UK zoological collection between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2019 (inclusive).MethodsAnaesthesia records were reviewed and variables such as age, body condition, weight, sex, duration of anaesthesia and health status were collated. Anaesthesia-related mortality was defined as those deaths occurring during anaesthesia and up to 7 days postanaesthesia. Outcome was analysed using multivariable conditional logistic regression. Overall mortality was defined and included birds euthanised during anaesthesia for non-anaesthesia related reasons. Data were summarised as median (range). A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for the association between risk factors and anaesthetic death where a statistically significant difference was found.ResultsThe overall mortality rate was 10.19% (95% CI = 6.06–14.3%), while anaesthesia-related mortality was 3.88% (95% CI = 1.69–7.51%). Birds with an abnormal health status had a 15.53-fold (95% CI = 1.95–123.63) increased risk of death compared with those with a normal health status. The duration of anaesthesia was also a statistically significant risk factor (p = 0.021) in the univariable analysis, but not when combined with health status. No other variables were associated with anaesthesia-related mortality.Conclusions and clinical relevanceAbnormal health status and longer anaesthetic procedures were associated with a significantly increased risk of anaesthesia-related death in this population of birds. It is recommended that anaesthetic duration is minimized, and pre-existing diseases are diagnosed where possible prior to general anaesthesia of birds. Anaesthetizing healthy birds was associated with a low risk of mortality.     

Evaluation of age and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status as risk factors for perianesthetic morbidity and mortality in the cat

Objective: To evaluate age and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status as risk factors for perianesthetic morbidity/mortality in cats. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Institution teaching hospital. Animals: 138 cats ≥ 6 months of age that received inhalation anesthesia for ≥ 30 min Interventions: Observations were made during the 24 h post‐anesthetic period. Measurements and main results: Sixty‐one females and 77 males were included. Serious perianesthetic complications occurred in 15 cats (15/138; 11%), including cardiopulmonary arrest in 3 cats (3/138; 2%), and death or euthanasia in 7 cats (7/138; 5%). Age was not a factor in establishing risk for developing serious or minor perianesthetic complications in the cats in this study. However, ASA status was a risk factor. Cats having an ASA status of 3 or more were nearly 4 times as likely to develop serious perianesthetic complications, even when accounting for the significant confounding effects of anesthesia duration. Conclusions: ASA status, but not age, was a risk factor for the development of serious or minor perianesthetic complications in the 138 cats included in this study.     

Canine anaesthetic death in Spain: a multicentre prospective cohort study of 2012 cases

ObjectiveTo study current perianaesthetic mortality in dogs in Spain and to identify the main risk factors predisposing to perianaesthetic mortality in our country.Study designA multicentre prospective cohort study.Animal populationDogs anaesthetised for different surgical and diagnostic procedures at 39 Spanish veterinary clinics between February 2007 and March 2008.MethodsData of patients, procedures and anaesthetic management were recorded. Anaesthetic death was defined as perioperative death within 24 hours of the procedure end. A multivariate study evaluated perinanaesthetic death using logistic binary regression models with the Wald technique.Results2012 animals were included in the analyses. Twenty‐six dogs died. The global mortality rate was 1.29% (95% Confidence interval (95% CI): 0.88–1.89%). ASA I‐II was 0.33% (95 CI: 0.14–0.78%); ASA III‐V was 4.06% (95% CI: 2.67–6.13%). Most deaths occurred during the post‐operative period (20 dogs, 77%). The multivariate analysis revealed that high ASA grade was associated with an increased risk of mortality. The use of opioids plus NSAIDs during anaesthesia was related with a decrease of the risk.ConclusionsPerianaesthetic mortality in dogs in Spain was 1.29% (95% CI: 0.88–1.89%). ASA grade was the main prognostic factor of likelihood of death. The use of some analgesics (opioids and NSAIDs) in the perioperative period was associated with reduced odds of death and may be protective.Clinical relevanceEvaluation and stabilisation of patients before interventions may help lower risk of death during the anaesthesia. In addition to their use for welfare purposes, analgesics may be beneficial in reducing anaesthetic‐related deaths.     

Incidence,risk factors,and outcomes for early postoperative seizures in dogs with rostrotentorial brain tumors after intracranial surgery

BackgroundSeizures in the early postoperative period after intracranial surgery may affect outcome in dogs.ObjectivesTo determine the incidence of early postoperative seizures (EPS) in dogs with brain tumors, identify specific risk factors for EPS, and determine if EPS affects outcome.AnimalsEighty‐eight dogs that underwent 125 intracranial surgeries for diagnosis and treatment of rostrotentorial brain tumors.MethodsRetrospective cohort study. All patients with a diagnosis of rostrotentorial brain tumor from 2006 to 2020 were included. Early postoperative seizures were diagnosed by observation of seizure activity within 14 days of neurosurgery. Previously diagnosed structural epilepsy, perioperative anticonvulsant drug (ACD) use, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and tumor characteristics were evaluated. Outcome measures included neurologic and nonneurologic complications, duration of hospitalization, and survival to discharge.ResultsDogs with rostrotentorial brain tumors had EPS after 16/125 (12.8%) neurosurgical procedures (95% confidence interval [CI], 7%‐19%). Presence of previous structural epilepsy was not associated with EPS risk (P = 1). Perioperative ACD use also was not associated with EPS (P = .06). Dogs with EPS had longer hospitalization (P < .001), were more likely to have neurologic complications postsurgery (P = .01), and were less likely to survive to discharge (P = .01).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceIt is difficult to predict which dogs are at risk of EPS because the presence of previous structural epilepsy and the use of perioperative ACDs was not associated with EPS. However, seizures in the early postoperative period are clinically important because affected dogs had prolonged hospitalization, more neurologic complications, and decreased short‐term survival.     

Peri-anaesthetic mortality and nonfatal gastrointestinal complications in pet rabbits: a retrospective study on 210 cases

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and the associated risk factors of peri-anaesthetic mortality and gastrointestinal complications in pet rabbits.

Mortality, death interval, survivals, and herd factors for death in gilts and sows in commercial breeding herds

The objectives of this study were to measure death intervals and survival, to determine mortality rate and mortality risks, and to investigate the association of herd factors with mortality risk in individual female pigs. This study was conducted by obtaining female data with lifetime records of 65,621 females born between 1999 and 2002, and herd data with mean measurements of 5 yr from 2000 to 2004 in 105 herds. Annualized mortality rate was calculated as the number of dead females divided by the sum of life days in all gilts and sows, multiplied by 365 d. Mortality risk was calculated as the number of dead females divided by the number of surviving females at farrowing in each parity. Death interval in gilts was defined as the number of days from birth to death, and that in sows was the number of days from the last farrowing to death. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to obtain the survival probability by parity. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association of herd factors with mortality risk in individual females in each parity. Of the 65,621 females, the mortality risk was 9.9%, and the annualized mortality rate was 3.9%. Of the 6,501 dead females, death intervals in gilts and sows were 294.7 and 55.0 d, respectively. In gilts, survival probability rapidly decreased at 33 and 50 wk of age, around the first mating and the first parturition. In contrast, survival probability in sows decreased at wk 1 after farrowing, and rapidly decreased at wk 20 and 21 after farrowing in all parity groups that were around a subsequent peripartum period. The percentages of death on wk 0, 1, and 2 after the last farrowing in all the dead sows were 6.5, 23.5, and 10.1%, respectively. Approximately 10% of deaths also occurred from wk 20 to 21 after the last farrowing. Death interval in parity > or =5 was the shortest among all parity groups (49.2 d; P < 0.05). Mortality risks in parities 0 and 1 were 1.44 and 1.83%, respectively. As parity increased from 2 to > or =5, mortality risk increased from 1.63 to 5.90%. Herd factors (greater herd mortality, less herd productivity, and smaller herd size) were associated with greater mortality risk in individual females in parity 0 to > or =5, parity 4 and > or =5, and parity 1 to 4, respectively (P < 0.05). In conclusion, females in peripartum periods, gilts, and high-parity sows are at a greater risk of dying. Increased care should be implemented for prefarrowing females and early-lactating sows.     

Evaluation of lidocaine treatment and risk factors for death associated with gastric dilatation and volvulus in dogs: 112 cases (1997-2005)

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical features, outcome, risk factors for death, and efficacy of IV administration of lidocaine as a prophylactic treatment for ischemic reperfusion injury in gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 112 dogs with GDV. PROCEDURES: Data pertaining to breed; time lag to admission; clinical, clinicopathologic, and surgical findings; lidocaine treatment; and postoperative complications were assessed for association with outcome. RESULTS: German Shepherd Dogs (28.6%) and Great Danes (17%) were significantly over-represented. Risk factors for death included time lag (> or = 5 hours vs < 5 hours) from onset of clinical signs to admission (46.0% vs 11.3%), rectal temperature (< or = 38 degrees C vs > 38 degrees C [< 100.4 degrees F vs > 100.4 degrees F]) at admission (40.0% vs 14.9%), presence or absence of ARF (67.0% vs 23.3%), presence or absence of suspected gastric wall necrosis (59.3% vs 16.0%), and untreated gastric wall necrosis, compared with treated gastric wall necrosis (100% vs 47.6%). Overall mortality rate was 26.8%; no significant differences were detected in mortality rate or postoperative complications between dogs that received lidocaine IV prior to surgical intervention (52.0%) and dogs that did not (48.0%). Mean +/- SD hospitalization time was longer in the lidocaine treatment group (3.5 +/- 1.9 days vs 2.5 +/- 1.4 days). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Presence of the identified risk factors should warrant aggressive treatment. Lidocaine treatment was not associated with mortality rate or postoperative complications, but was associated with prolonged hospitalization time.     

Association of growth, feeding practices and exercise conditions with the prevalence of Developmental Orthopaedic Disease in limbs of French foals at weaning

Developmental Orthopaedic Disease (DOD) in limb joints of horses is frequent and is a common cause of pain and lameness. DOD is a multifactorial disease involving genetics, growth, feeding practices and exercise conditions leading to joint injuries. However, there is no clear understanding of the contribution of each factor. The aim of this cohort study was to assess the adjusted effects of breed and gender, growth, feeding practices and exercise conditions on the prevalence of DOD in the limbs of foals at weaning and on the prevalence restricted to osteochondrosis (OC).Twenty-one farms in Normandy, France, were convenience sampled and enrolled in a cohort study. The study sample consisted of 401 foals from 3 breeds, followed from the 8th month of pregnancy of the mares until weaning period at approximately 6 months of age of the foals. Stud farms were regularly visited to collect growth, feeding practices and exercise conditions data. The carpus, the front and hind digits, the hock and the stifle of the foals were X-rayed at the end of follow-up. Foals were categorised as affected or unaffected by DOD or by OC. Two mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to determine risk factors for DOD or OC, adjusting for clustering by farm.Of the 378 foals with complete data, 47% (95% CI: 42–52) were affected by DOD and 36% (95% CI: 31–41) by OC. Risk was significantly increased for DOD and for OC in Warmblood foals compared to Thoroughbreds (OR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.2–6.5 for DOD, OR 2.9; 95% CI: 1.1–7.5 for OC), in foals with a high wither height at 30 days of age, and in foals with a rapid increase of wither height (for DOD only). Exercise conditions such as large area of pasture, some irregular exercise, or some batch changes were also significant risk factors for DOD or OC. No association was found with quantitative feeding practices; it was likely due to the limited variability of horse regimens and to the partial inclusion of nutritional effects in other factors such as breed and growth. In order to reduce the prevalence of DOD or OC in foals, following the growth and reducing nutritional supply in subjects growing fast, limiting the pasture areas offered and providing a regular exercise to foals seems appropriate. To our knowledge, to date the assessment of adjusted effects of potential risk factors for DOD has never been proposed.     

Outcome and prognostic factors in infective endocarditis in dogs: 113 cases (2005‐2020)

BackgroundFactors associated with outcome in dogs diagnosed with infective endocarditis (IE) are not well characterized.ObjectivesEvaluate outcome and prognostic factors in dogs with IE.AnimalsOne hundred and thirteen dogs with IE.MethodsMedical records for dogs that fulfilled the modified Duke criteria between 2005 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Signalment, preexisting conditions, clinicopathologic findings, treatment regimen, and outcomes were recorded. Univariate logistic regression was performed to identify categorical factors associated with mortality, and then multivariate analysis was performed.ResultsDogs were categorized as survivors (n = 47), non‐survivors (n = 57), or lost to follow‐up (n = 9). Survival to discharge and at 1 month was documented in 79 (70%) of 113 and 56 (54%) of 104 dogs, respectively, with median survival time (MST) of 72 days. Risk factors associated with mortality included development of congestive heart failure (odds ratio [OR], 11.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4‐97.8), thromboembolic events (OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 2.3‐14.4), and acute kidney injury (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 2.0‐18.8). Administration of antithrombotic medications was associated with survival (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13‐0.97). Dogs that were not treated with antithrombotics had MST of 92 days, whereas dogs treated with antithrombotics did not reach MST during the study period. The heart valves involved and etiologic agent identified did not correlate with outcome.Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceDogs with IE that had thromboembolic events, acute kidney injury, or congestive heart failure had higher risk of mortality. Administration of antithrombotics was associated with prolonged survival time.     

Risk factors associated with short-term outcome and development of perioperative complications in dogs undergoing surgery because of gastric dilatation-volvulus: 166 cases (1992-2003)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate risk factors associated with death and development of perioperative complications in dogs undergoing surgery for treatment of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 166 dogs. PROCEDURES: Records of dogs with confirmed GDV that underwent surgery were reviewed. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with development of complications (ie, hypotension, arrhythmias, gastric necrosis necessitating gastrectomy, disseminated intravascular coagulation, peritonitis, sepsis, postoperative dilatation, postoperative vomiting, and incisional problems) and with short-term outcome (ie, died vs survived to the time of suture removal). RESULTS: Short-term mortality rate was 16.2% (27/166). Risk factors significantly associated with death prior to suture removal were clinical signs for > 6 hours prior to examination, combined splenectomy and partial gastrectomy, hypotension at any time during hospitalization, peritonitis, sepsis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Partial gastrectomy was not a significant risk factor for death but was for peritonitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, sepsis, and arrhythmias. Age, gastrectomy, and disseminated intravascular coagulation were risk factors for development of hypotension. Use of a synthetic colloid or hypertonic saline solution was associated with a significantly decreased risk of hypotension. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that the prognosis for dogs undergoing surgery because of GDV is good but that certain factors are associated with an increased risk that dogs will develop perioperative complications or die.