Serial postoperative peritoneal fluid analyses in horses with naturally-occurring strangulating and non-strangulating gastrointestinal lesions.

Peritoneal fluid lactate and TP remain elevated postoperatively in horses after exploratory laparotomy for gastrointestinal lesions.

This prospective, observational cohort study investigated the postoperative peritoneal fluid characteristics in 26 horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy for naturally occurring gastrointestinal lesions. The horses were divided into two groups: 14 with strangulating lesions and 12 with non-strangulating lesions. Abdominocentesis was performed preoperatively and at 24, 72, and 168 hours postoperatively. The study measured peritoneal lactate, total protein (TP), total nucleated cell count (TNCC), cytology, and systemic lactate at each time point. Preoperatively, horses with strangulating lesions had significantly higher peritoneal lactate (p < 0.001) and TP (p = 0.02) compared to those with non-strangulating lesions. Postoperatively, peritoneal lactate and TP concentrations remained elevated above normal levels throughout the study period in both groups. Systemic lactate returned to normal by 24 hours postoperatively, with both groups showing significantly lower levels than preoperatively (p = 0.02). Peritoneal TNCC increased at 24 hours postoperatively in both groups (p = 0.001 for strangulating and p < 0.001 for non-strangulating lesions). The study concluded that peritoneal fluid lactate and TP concentrations remain elevated for up to one week following exploratory laparotomy for gastrointestinal lesions in horses, suggesting that current reference values for preoperative fluid analyses may not be applicable in the postoperative period. ([lifescience.net](https://www.lifescience.net/publications/1895680/serial-postoperative-peritoneal-fluid-analyses-in-/?utm_source=openai))

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