Vol. 9, Special Issue 6, Part B (2024)

Lactate is closely linked to morbidity and mortality in nearly every critically ill patient. It serves as a valuable prognostic indicator in conditions with high mortality. This study aims to explore the potential use of a point-of-care machine in critically ill septic patients to correlate lactate levels with survival outcomes in the Emergency and Critical Care Unit of the Institute over a two-year period. Dogs exhibiting signs of septic shock with parvoviral enteritis and Ehrlichiosis were screened and identified. A total of 33 cases were confirmed using lateral flow assays and PCR when necessary. Among these 33 cases, 10 were confirmed to have Ehrlichiosis, and 23 had parvoviral enteritis. Blood lactate level was analysed using a pocket analyzer immediately upon triage, prior to resuscitation. Based on lactate levels, the dogs were classified as mild (2.5 mmol/L to 5 mmol/L), moderate (5.1 mmol/L to 7.5 mmol/L), and severe (7.6 mmol/L and above). Clinical cases were treated according to standard therapeutic protocols, including colloids and crystalloid fluids, oxygen therapy, antibiotics, and other treatments as indicated. Survival was correlated with blood lactate levels through Kaplan-Meier and chi-square analysis. Our study concludes that the handheld point-of-care (POC) device is highly effective in measuring blood lactate levels in veterinary emergency and critical care units. The Kaplan-Meier chi-square survival analysis confirmed that a high blood lactate level during admission is associated with a poor outcome. In contrast, mild hyperlactatemia at admission in septic shock patients, particularly those with very severe canine parvoviral enteritis and Ehrlichiosis, was associated with a better outcome.