Infusion-related sepsis in dogs undergoing acute cardiopulmonary surgery.

During acute cardiopulmonary studies, 33 of 170 (19.4%) dogs developed uncontrollable acidosis accompanied by varying degrees of diarrhea and hypotension. Affected dogs had evidence of gram-negative bacteremia and septic shock. Intravenously administered fluids were contaminated with gram-negative bacteria. Since the experimental procedure entailed nonsurvival surgery, aseptic techniques were not employed. Although aseptic surgical techniques are to be used in animals undergoing survival surgery, such techniques also may be warranted in non-survival surgeries.