ERYTHRO-LEUKOGRAM OF HORSES SUBMITTED TO EXPERIMENTAL OBSTRUCTION OF DUODENUM, ILEUM AND LARGE COLON

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate and compare physical and hematological alterations in equines submitted to an experimental model of intestinal obstruction. Twenty-four animals were divided into four groups: instrumented control (GI), duodenum obstruction (GII), ileum obstruction (GIII), and large colon obstruction (GIV). Physical examination was carried out and blood samples were collected before surgery (T0), during the obstruction (T1i, T2i and T3i), and after unblocking procedures (T3r, T24r, T72r, T120r and T168r). Animals from GII, at T2i and T3i, and animals from GIII, at T1i, T2i, T3i and T3r, presented signs of abdominal pain, reduced gastrointestinal sounds and increased heart and respiratory rates, as well as leukopenia and neutropenia, which later (T24r and T72r) developed to leukocytosis, neutrophilia and left shifts. From T120r up, gradual and continuous decrease of leucocytes counts was observed indicating, similarly to Clínical characteristics, the resolution of organic dysfunction associated to obstruction. The results were associated to enteric injury from the obstruction model showing that some laboratorial alterations when analyzed, including physical examination, can be helpful at identifying which intestinal segment is blocked, drawing up the prognosis and following the evolution of the healing process.
KEYWORDS: Equine, hemogram, colic, ischemia, reperfusion.