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Arterial blood gas parameters of normal foals born at 1500 metres elevation
Author(s) -
HACKETT E. S.,
TRAUBDARGATZ J. L.,
KNOWLES Jr. J. E.,
TARR S. F.,
DARGATZ D. A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.2746/042516409x475292
Subject(s) - hyperventilation , arterial blood , effects of high altitude on humans , medicine , hypoxia (environmental) , pco2 , horse , foal , post partum , venous blood , anesthesia , oxygen , pregnancy , biology , anatomy , chemistry , paleontology , genetics , organic chemistry
Summary Reasons for performing study: Arterial blood gas analysis is widely accepted as a diagnostic tool to assess respiratory function in neonates. To the authors' knowledge, there are no published reports of arterial blood gas parameters in normal neonatal foals at altitude. Objective: To provide information on arterial blood gas parameters of normal foals born at 1500 m elevation (Fort Collins, Colorado) in the first 48 h post partum . Hypothesis: Foals born at 1500 m will have lower P a O 2 and P a CO 2 than foals born at sea level due to low inspired oxygen and compensatory hyperventilation occurring at altitude. Methods: Sixteen foals were studied. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed within 1 h of foaling and subsequent samples were evaluated at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h post partum . Data were compared to those previously reported in healthy foals born near sea level. Results: Mean P a O 2 was 53.0 mmHg (7.06 kPa) within 1 h of foaling, rising to 67.5 mmHg (9.00 kPa) at 48 h post partum . P a CO 2 was 44.1 mmHg (5.88 kPa) within one hour of foaling, falling to 38.3 mmHg (5.11 kPa) at 48 h. Both P a O 2 and P a CO 2 were significantly lower in foals born at 1500 m elevation than those near sea level at several time points during the first 48 h. Conclusions and potential relevance: Foals at 1500 m elevation undergo hypobaric hypoxia and compensatory hyperventilation in the first 48 h. Altitude specific normal arterial blood values are an important reference for veterinarians providing critical care to equine neonates.