Assessment of Clinical and Laboratory Variables as a Guide to Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusion of Euvolemic Anemic Dogs. (13th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kisielewicz, C.; Self, I.; Bell, R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary internal medicine. Volume 28:Number 2(2014:Mar./Apr.)
• Page Start: 576
• Page End: 582
• Publication Date: 2014-01-13
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; 636.0896
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12280
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-6640

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jvim12280-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jvim12280-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>There are no standardized guidelines for determining the likelihood that euvolemic anemic dogs will benefit from transfusion of packed red blood cells (pRBC).</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12280-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To report clinical and laboratory variables of dogs receiving pRBC transfusion, which could guide transfusion of other anemic dogs.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12280-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Twenty‐four client‐owned anemic dogs receiving pRBC transfusion.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12280-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Prospective study; 30 transfusions assessed. Clinical findings (mucosal color, pulse quality, heart rate, respiratory rate, mentation/exercise tolerance) before and after transfusion were evaluated by the anemic dog clinical assessment score (ADCAS). Hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, venous oxygen content (CvO<sub>2</sub>), and lactate concentration were measured from blood samples taken before and after transfusion. These results were not used for case management.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12280-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>All ADCAS variables decreased significantly with transfusion (<italic>P </italic>< .001); the total score was ≥5/12 before transfusion, and ≤3/12 in all cases that were deemed to no longer require transfusion. Hematocrit and CvO<sub>2</sub> were <17% and <5 mL/dL, respectively, in 83% of cases before transfusion and hemoglobin concentration was <5.8 g/dL in 80%. Hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and CvO<sub>2</sub> increased significantly with transfusion (<italic>P </italic>< .001); lactate concentration decreased significantly (<italic>P </italic>= .006).</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12280-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions and Clinical Importance</title> <p>Clinical and laboratory variables improved significantly after transfusion of pRBC. By identifying how transfusion affected these variables, it was possible to recognize clinical (ADCAS) and laboratory (hemoglobin, CvO<sub>2</sub>, lactate) variables, which could be useful in guiding the decision to transfuse dogs with similar presentations.</p> </sec> </abstract>