Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in Ponies with Surgically Induced Strangulation Obstruction of the Small Intestine

Abstract

Total strangulation obstruction (S/O) of the jejuno‐ileum was produced in a group of randomly selected ponies. Peripheral blood samples were collected prior to surgery and at 3‐hour intervals following obstruction. A coagulation profile consisting of platelet count, fibrinogen titer (FT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and serial dilution protamine sulfate test (SDPS) for fibrin monomers (FM) and/or early fibrin degradation products (fdp) was evaluated. The packed cell volume (PCV) and total plasma protein (TPP) were also determined. Concurrent peritoneal fluid samples were assessed grossly. Sham‐operated (sham) ponies were treated in a similar manner, excluding the production of a strangulation obstruction of the small intestine. Notable coagulopathies occurred in the S/O group. PT and APTT were increased significantly in samples collected within 6 hours of death. All S/O horses developed strongly positive SDPS reactions, while sham ponies, presurgical S/O ponies, and early S/O postsurgical samples were unremarkable. There were no significant shifts in the fibrinogen titer. Platelet counts were significantly decreased during the final 10% of sampling time in S/O horses. The coagulopathies observed in the S/O ponies appear to be secondary to the pathophysiologic changes produced by the S/O and not related to surgical trauma.