PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D H Grove-White

Publications and source records attributed to D H Grove-White.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Iatrogenic hypocalcaemia during parenteral fluid therapy of diarrhoeic calves.

Acid-base balance and electrolyte concentrations, including ionised calcium, were monitored during intravenous fluid therapy of 11 collapsed diarrhoeic suckler calves aged five to 10 days. Six healthy calves of similar age and type were used to provide control data. All the diarrhoeic calves were severely acidotic (TCO2<12 mmol/litre). Isotonic sodium bicarbonate (1-3 per cent) was administered until the metabolic acidosis was half corrected, as indicated by the TCO2 increasing to 17 to 24 mmol/litre when the infusion was changed to an extracellular volume replacement fluid containing 144 mmol/litre Na+, 35 mmol/litre HCO3-, 4 mmol/litre K+ and 113 mmol/litre Cl- which was administered until the calf was discharged. Milk feeding was started as soon as the calf had a suck reflex. The treatment was successful in 10 calves. At admission the diarrhoeic calves were hypocalcaemic compared with the control calves, but their ionised calcium was significantly higher, with significantly less calcium being protein bound. Treatment with isotonic sodium bicarbonate resulted in a significant improvement in acid-base balance, but both total and ionised calcium decreased significantly, the decrease in ionised calcium being proportionately greater owing partly to a significant increase in the protein binding of calcium. The mean total, bound and ionised calcium concentrations were all significantly lower in the treated calves after they had received isotonic sodium bicarbonate than in the control calves. Further treatment with replacement fluid had no significant effect on any of the parameters apart from pCO2 which increased significantly. Milk feeding had no significant effect on plasma calcium concentrations. The calves' mean ionised calcium concentration was significantly lower at the end of the treatment than before it, but there was no difference in the mean total and bound calcium concentrations. The calves' mean plasma potassium and magnesium concentrations decreased significantly during the course of the treatment.

Animals↗

Comparison of the measurement of total carbon dioxide and strong ion difference for the evaluation of metabolic acidosis in diarrhoeic calves.

Eighty-four calves with diarrhoea were treated with fluids and 13 apparently healthy calves of similar ages were sampled as controls. Their total blood carbon dioxide (TCO2) was measured with a Harleco apparatus and 31 of the calves were treated with oral fluids and 53 with parenteral fluids. The oral fluid contained 118 mmol/litre Na+, 25 mmol/litre K+, 110 mmol/litre glucose, 108 mmol/litre bicarbonate (HCO3- as citrate), 43 mmol/litre Cl-, 4 mmol/litre Ca++, 4 mmol/litre Mg++ and 20 mmol/litre glycine, and the parenteral fluid contained 144 mmol/litre Na+, 4 mmol/litre K+, 35 mmol/litre HCO3- and 113 mmol/litre Cl-. Both treatments resulted in significant improvements in acid-base status as demonstrated by an increase in TCO2, and the treatment was successful in 27 of the 31 calves receiving oral fluids and in 45 of the 53 calves receiving parenteral fluids. Thirty-seven of the calves treated parenterally were very severely acidotic (TCO2 <8 mmol/litre) initially and they received an additional 400 mmol HCO3- added to the first 5 litres of infusion. Treatment was successful in 33 of these calves. The decision to administer additional bicarbonate was made on the basis of their acid-base status as measured with a Harleco apparatus. The strong ion difference (Na++K+-Cl-) (SID) of the calves was calculated retrospectively. There was a significant correlation between the SID and TCO2 of the calves treated with oral fluids but not among the control calves or the calves treated parenterally. Furthermore, measurements of the change in SID during therapy gave little indication of the change in acid-base status as measured by the Harleco apparatus, with the SID decreasing (suggesting a worsening of acid-base status) in 16 calves in which the TCO2 increased (suggesting an improvement in acid-base status). There was a significant correlation between the change in SID and the change in TCO2 during treatment in the calves receiving oral fluids but not in the calves treated parenterally.

Acidosis↗

Abdominal distension in collapsed diarrhoeic calves: biochemical findings and treatment.

Thirty-seven of 53 diarrhoeic calves hospitalised for intravenous fluid therapy were classified as very severely acidotic (total carbon dioxide less than 8 mmol/litre) by using a Harleco apparatus. All the calves were given intravenously 10 to 20 litres of electrolyte solution which contained 144 mmol/litre sodium, 4 mmol/litre potassium, 113 mmol/litre chloride and 35 mmol/litre bicarbonate, and in addition the 37 very severely acidotic calves received 400 ml of 1M sodium bicarbonate in the first 5 litres of fluid administered. Sixteen of the 37 very severely acidotic calves had a distended right flank, suggesting the presence of a dilated fluid-filled viscus. Neither their history nor other clinical signs were useful predictors of the distension. The distended calves had significantly higher plasma concentrations of sodium and chloride, and significantly lower plasma creatinine concentrations than the calves which were not distended. Treatment was successful in all the 21 non-distended calves but four of the distended calves died despite treatment. The resolution of the distension in the successfully treated calves, coincided with a significant increase in plasma bicarbonate concentration and the passage of large amounts of malodorous mucoid faeces.

Abomasum↗

'Stupid calves'.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acidosis↗

Diagnosis and treatment of metabolic acidosis in calves: a field study.

The history and results of a clinical examination were recorded for 32 spring-born suckler calves which were hospitalised for intravenous fluid therapy. Blood samples were taken before treatment, during treatment and before discharge and analysed for colostral status, total carbon dioxide as an indication of acid-base status, and haematocrit. All the calves were given intravenously 5 to 10 litres of electrolyte solution containing 144 mmol/litre sodium, 4 mmol/litre potassium, 113 mmol/litre chloride and 35 mmol/litre bicarbonate, supplemented, in 24 calves, with up to 450 ml of 1M sodium bicarbonate. Nearly all the calves were recumbent but less than half were dehydrated on admission. The signs of dehydration were well correlated with each other and with the haematocrit. Neither the history nor the clinical signs were useful predictors of acidosis. There was no relationship between the severity of acidosis and the degree of dehydration. Acidosis was more prevalent in older calves (P < 0.01). For the severely acidotic calves, supplementary intravenous fluid with sodium bicarbonate significantly (P < 0.05) improved the total blood carbon dioxide at discharge. All 32 calves recovered. It is possible to treat acidotic calves with intravenous fluid therapy effectively, economically and according to their individual needs. The Harleco apparatus is a simple, useful, cost-effective adjunct to the diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening condition.

Acidosis↗