Investigations about the diagnostic value of venous blood gas parameters in newborn foals with respiratory disorders

Analysis of blood gases in equine neonatology is regarded as a diagnostic t ool to study the neonatal adaptation period. Aim of this study therefore wa s to compare the diagnostic value of venous blood gas parameters to arteria l parameters in newborn foals with pulmonary disorders. Venous as well as a rterial blood samples were taken from 24 foals (1 to 6 days old) and the pa rtial pressure of oxygen (pO(2)), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO(2 )), pH, and oxygen parturition (S-O-2) of these samples were investigated. In addition, the alveolar (A) to arterial (a) gradients (A-aDO(2)) were cal culated. Due to changes in blood gas parameters during the first week postn atal the age was taken into consideration by using covariance analysis. All arterial parameters except p(a)CO(2) showed a significant difference among healthy foals (n = 15) and foals with respiratory disorders (n = 11) with A-aDO(2) and p(a)O(2) being the most reliable arterial parameters. In venou s blood there was a significant difference between healthy and sick foals o nly in S-O-2 and pH.