Acid-base indicators in the venous and arterial blood of horses affected by recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)

Abstract

The acid-base equilibrium is closely linked to gas exchange in the lungs, and respiratory exchange ratios are used to evaluate respiratory effectiveness and tissue oxygen levels. Acid-base indicators are determined in both arterial and venous blood samples. This study compares the usefulness of acid-base indicators of venous and arterial blood in monitoring the condition of horses with recurrent airway obstruction. Prior to treatment involving bronchodilating glucocorticoids, expectorant and mucolytic drugs, more pronounced changes were observed in venous blood (pH 7.283, pCO2 61.92 mmHg, pO2 35.541 mmHg, HCO3- 31.933 mmHg, BE 2.933 mmol/l, O2SAT 58.366%, ctCO2 38.333 mmol/l) than in arterial blood (pH 7.309, pCO2 53.478 mmHg, pO2 90.856 mmHg, HCO3- 28.50 mmHg, BE 3.133 mmol/l, O2SAT 93.375%, ctCO2 31.652 mmol/l), indicating compensated respiratory acidosis. The improvement of respiratory efficiency minimized acidosis symptoms in both venous blood (pH 7.365, pCO2 43.55 mmHg, pO2 47.80 mmHg, HCO3 30.325 mmHg, BE 3.050 mmol/l, O2SAT 80.10%, ctCO2 29.80 mmol/l) and arterial blood (pH 7.375, pCO2 39.268 mmHg, pO2 98.476 mmHg, HCO3- 26.651 mmHg, BE 4.956 mmol/l, O2SAT 98.475%, ctCO2 28.131 mmol/l). Venous blood parameters were marked by greater deviations from mean values, both before and after treatment. Acid-base indicators determined in venous blood are indicative of respiratory disturbances, but they do not support a comprehensive evaluation of gas exchange in the lungs.