Survival analysis of critically ill dogs with hypotension with or without hyperlactatemia: 67 cases (2006-2011).

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether critically ill hypotensive dogs without hyperlactatemia have the same prognosis as critically ill hypotensive dogs with hyperlactatemia.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

ANIMALS

67 critically ill dogs with hypotension.

PROCEDURES

Medical records were searched from January 2006 through December 2011 for dogs that were hospitalized in the intensive care unit and that had hypotension and measurement of blood lactate concentration. Blood lactate concentration, systolic blood pressure, and survival rate were compared between hypotensive dogs with and without hyperlactatemia.

RESULTS

19 of 67 (28%) dogs survived and were discharged from the hospital. Hypotensive dogs without hyperlactatemia had a significantly higher systolic blood pressure and were 3.23 (95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 9.43) times as likely to survive, compared with hypotensive dogs with hyperlactatemia. Age, weight, severity of clinical illness, and duration of hospitalization did not differ significantly between hypotensive dogs with and without hyperlactatemia.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results suggested that hypotensive dogs without hyperlactatemia had a better prognosis and chance of surviving to hospital discharge than did hypotensive dogs with hyperlactatemia. Because blood lactate concentration was negatively associated with systolic blood pressure and survival probability, it may be a useful metric for determining the prognosis of hypotensive dogs.