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Assessment of Resuscitation Efforts in Animals

ByAndrew Linklater, DVM, DACVECC;Kayla R. Hanson, DVM, DACVECC, cHPV, cVMA
Reviewed/Revised Nov 2020

    Once the fluid therapy plan is underway, ongoing assessment is critical. If adequate fluids have been administered and reasonable resuscitation endpoints have not been reached, several causes should be considered; these variables should be rapidly assessed and corrected:

    • inadequate volume administration

    • ongoing fluid losses from hemorrhage

    • third space fluid losses

    • heart disease or pericardial fluid accumulation

    • severe vasodilation or vasoconstriction

    • organ ischemia

    • hypoglycemia

    • hypokalemia

    • hypocalcemia

    • arrhythmias

    • severe acidemia or alkalemia

    • anemia or hypoxemia

    • decreased venous return

    • hypothermia

    • intracranial disease

    • hypoadrenocorticism or critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency

    If a central venous pressure (CVP) line is available, it may be checked to see whether CVP is near the endpoints assigned ( Resuscitation Endpoints). If not, or if no CVP is available, a fluid challenge can be given. This typically consists of a rapid IV infusion (10–15 mL/kg) of crystalloids and/or a rapid IV infusion (5 mL/kg) of a hydroxyethyl starch. If the perfusion parameters improve with this challenge, then the likely cause of the nonresponsive shock is inadequate volume, and colloids are titrated to reach the desired endpoints. Ultrasonography, with an experienced ultrasonographer, may be useful to assess cardiac function and/or volume status in select patients.

    If fluid volume appears adequate, underlying etiologies have been addressed and treated, and the animal is still hypotensive, vasopressors can be used. These medications are often started at the lower end of the dose and titrated up quickly to obtain a blood pressure that supports organ function, then delivered as a continuous rate infusion: dopamine (2–15 mg/kg/minute), norepinephrine (0.05–2 mcg/kg/minute), vasopressin (1–5mU/kg/minute), and phenylephrine (1–3 mcg/kg/minute) are common options. If cardiac contractility is known to be low, dobutamine (2–10 mcg/kg/minute) may be administered. These medications are gradually reduced once blood pressure has stabilized.

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