PROGNOSIS FOR NEONATAL FOALS IN AN INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT

This study was conducted to develop an equation for the prediction of outcome in neonatal feats undergoing treatment in an intensive care un it (ICU). Fifty-three physical examination, historical, and clinicopat hologic variables were analyzed from the records of 99 neonatal foals (<14 days of age) treated in the neonatal ICU of the Equine Medical Ce nter. The outcome was recorded and the results were categorized into e ither surviving or nonsurviving groups. The mean values for the 2 grou ps were compared, and variables that differed significantly between th e two groups were retained and used to construct a logistic regression equation. Retained variables were heart rate, temperature, and neutro phil count. The predictive equation then was tested prospectively in 2 additional groups of foals from 2 separate ICUs. The predicted outcom e was compared to the actual outcome, and performance variables were c alculated. Sensitivity (.83), specificity (.87), negative predictive v alue (.72), and positive predictive value (.93) were determined for fo als from one neonatal ICU; the sensitivity (.83), specificity (.44), n egative predictive value (.44), and positive predictive value (.83) we re lower for foals at a second, separate ICU. Copyright (C) 1997 by th e American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.