Tag: Lactate

  • Focus on GDV, part 1: resuscitation

    Focus on GDV, part 1: resuscitation

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    Last month we covered a bit of pathophysiology, presenting pathophysiology, presenting clinical signs and the radiographic diagnosis of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Now we cover the three things you need to do as soon as a suspected case is presented: IV fluid resuscitation decompression of the stomach pain relief Depending on the number of staff you…

  • Making sense of effusions (part 1): is your patient septic?

    Making sense of effusions (part 1): is your patient septic?

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    Interpreting effusion samples can be confusing, so try to think of effusions as if you were collecting a blood sample. Many of the in-clinic diagnostic tests that apply to blood samples also apply to effusions, such as: PCV/total protein smears glucose lactate potassium creatinine bilirubin It’s not enough to only check the protein concentration of…

  • Linear foreign bodies, part 3: should YOU take it to surgery?

    Linear foreign bodies, part 3: should YOU take it to surgery?

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    In the previous post we covered what to look out for on ultrasound when assessing for a linear foreign body. Now we discuss the things you should consider before deciding to take the patient to surgery. Read the following statements and answer the questions – either yes or no… Linear foreign body surgeries can be…

  • AFAST, part 2

    AFAST, part 2

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    Part one of this series looked at how to perform an abdominal focused assessment with sonography for trauma (AFAST) – this week looks at how to interpret abdominal fluid scores (AFS) in a clinical setting. To recap – the score is out of a possible 4, with each site allocated a 0 or 1 based…

  • The beginning of the end of vet school

    The beginning of the end of vet school

    As regular readers of this blog may have noticed, I was a little apprehensive about starting my final year at veterinary school… Having already been in the small animal hospital for two days, we finally received our results – confirming I and many of my fellow classmates had passed our exams and could now wear…