THE EFFECT OF RESPIRATORY-DISEASES IN CAL VES ON THE BLOOD-GAS VALUESAND ACID-BASE-BALANCE

In 43 calves at the age of 1-10 months with diagnosis of respiratory s yndrome related to clinical finding, parameters of acid-base balance a nd blood gases: topical acidity - pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxi de - pCO(2), partial pressure of oxygen - pO(2), saturation of blood h aemoglobin by oxygen - SAT, topical bicarbonate - HCO3- and excess of bases - BE. Calves were hospitalized on the clinic, they were clinical ly examined before blood taking and according to the degree of affecti on of the respiratory system they were divided into three groups - res piratory syndrome of light degree - Rsd 1 (n = 13), medium degree Rsd 2 (n = 15) and heavy degree Rsd 3 (n = 15). Clinical examinations were performed by routine clinical examination methods. Arterial blood, ta ken by puncture from a. axillaris, was examined and after taking it wa s analyzed on automatic analyzer ABL4, manufactured by Radiometer Cope nhagen. The results obtained were compared with the values obtained fr om clinically healthy calves - Rsd 0 (n = 20). It was found from the r esults attained (Tabs. I to II) that even in light degree of disease - Rsd 1 and 2 - significant changes were only in pO(2) (p < 0.001) and partial respiratory insufficiency occurs, while in the other investiga ted indicators more significant changes compared with healthy calves w ere found in heavy form of disease (Rsd 3) and were characterized by m ore significant decrease in pCO(2) by increase of pCO(2) values on ave rage to 7.51 kPa (p < 0.001) and incidence of global respiratory insuf ficiency. In addition, increase of the values of bicarbonates and BE p roportionally with graveness of the disease (Rsd 3, p < 0.001) as a ma nifestation of compensatory controlling mechanisms of the body, respon ding to increasing pCO(2) and occurrence of respiratory acidosis. This was shown by maintenance of blood pH within range of physiological va lues (7.36-7.44) almost in 50% of calves of the group Rsd 3. Acidemia las a consequence of non-compensatory respiratory acidosis) was found in most severe statuses when pCO(2) achieved the values from 9 to 10 k Pa. As follows from the results, significant trends related to the ser iousness of disease were recorded not only in blood gases - pO(2) and pCO(2), but also in other parameters of acid-base balance - pH, HCO3- and BE, and these are presented in Tab. III. The results obtained deep ened the current knowledge in the sphere of the effect of disease of t he respiratory system on internal medium and showed that in diseases o f respiratory system analysis of blood gases as well as investigated p arameters of acid-base balance of arterial blood is a significant comp onent of evaluation of the degree of affection what extends possibilit ies of diagnostics together with determination of prognosis before and during therapy.