UC Davis

Background

Urolithiasis in small ruminants has a poor long-term prognosis, and long-term clinical outcomes are variable and unpredictable.

Objectives

To assess the accuracy of preoperative and postoperative blood l-lactate concentrations in predicting a negative outcome in goats undergoing tube cystostomy.

Animals

Thirty-four male goats undergoing tube cystostomy.

Methods

Retrospective study. Medical records of goats undergoing tube cystostomy from 2015 to 2020 were reviewed. Clinical variables recorded included signalment, procedures before surgery, urolith location and type, duration of hospitalization, and heart rate. PCV, plasma total protein, potassium, preoperative and postoperative blood l-lactate concentrations, preoperative and postoperative creatinine concentrations, and relative changes in blood l-lactate and creatinine concentrations over time were measured using heparinized blood. A negative outcome was defined as death or euthanasia from urolithiasis complications at 6 months after discharge. Negative outcomes as a function of independent clinical variables were evaluated using χ² or Fisher's exact tests, and multivariate logistic regression. P < .05 was considered significant.

Results

Median (95% confidence interval) preoperative, postoperative, and the relative change over time of blood l-lactate concentrations were 3.3 mmol/L (2.2, 4.8), 1.0 mmol/L (0.7, 1.3), and 0.4 mmol/L (-3.5, 3.2), respectively. Preoperative (P = 1), postoperative (P = .14), and the relative change over time (P = .63) of blood l-lactate concentrations were not significant predictors of a negative outcome. Furthermore, all other clinical variables measured were not significant predictors of a negative outcome (P > .05).

Conclusions and clinical importance

Veterinarians should advise clients that clinical outcomes after tube cystostomy in goats are likely unpredictable.