Retrospective evaluation of the prognostic utility of quick sequential organ failure assessment scores in dogs with surgically treated sepsis (2011-2018): 204 cases

Evaluation of the modified quick sequential organ failure assessment scoring system for triage and prognostic assessment in canine emergency and critically ill patients: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

In veterinary medicine, the qSOFA model has been studied in patients with conditions such as peritonitis or pyometra, and among the modified qSOFA models, only the qSOFA-lactate model has been researched. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of q-SOFA-C-reactive protein (CRP), qSOFA-lactate, and quick systemic inflammatory response syndrome (qSIRS) models for triaging emergency and critically ill patients. These models were juxtaposed with conventional systems (SIRS, qSOFA, and acute patient physiology and laboratory evaluation [APPLE] fast) to ascertain their efficacy in patient triage and prognostication. In this retrospective cohort study, data from 166 dogs admitted to the Department of Emergency and Critical care at Konkuk Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between February 2021 and May 2023 were analyzed. Scoring systems were computed based on initial admission physical examinations (respiratory rate, heart rate, temperature, mentation, and systolic blood pressure) and laboratory results (white blood cell and platelet count and albumin, glucose, lactate, and CRP levels). Because no prior veterinary studies on the qSOFA-CRP model were available, optimal cutoff values were established using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the Youden index. Conventional scoring systems were compared with the modified qSOFA within the survivor and non-survivor groups. The most effective system was determined through ROC curve analysis.

RESULTS

For the qSOFA-CRP model, we identified an optimal cutoff value for CRP at > 1.55 mg/dL. All modified qSOFA scoring systems showed significant differences between survivors and non-survivors, in contrast to the conventional scoring systems. Notably, the qSOFA-CRP model demonstrated the highest area under the ROC curve value (0.761, 95% CI 0.68-0.83) and odds ratio (13.373, p < 0.001) when evaluating mortality at 28 days.

CONCLUSIONS

The qSOFA-CRP model, when employing a CRP threshold of 1.55 mg/dL, demonstrated promising potential as a novel criterion for triaging emergency and critically ill patients. However, further assessment is required in a larger population of patients at the precise early stage of sepsis.

Predictive factors associated with short-term mortality in cats with feline infectious peritonitis treated with remdesivir or GS-441524 or both

BACKGROUND

Although most cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) respond to treatment with remdesivir or GS-441524 or both with uneventful clinical courses, some die despite treatment.

OBJECTIVE

Identify predictive factors associated with short-term mortality in cats with FIP treated with IV remdesivir or PO GS-441524 or both.

ANIMALS

A total of 108 client-owned cats with FIP.

METHODS

Retrospective multicenter study using data collected from medical records. Factors associated with short-term mortality, defined as death within 84 days, were identified. Univariate analysis a t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Fisher's exact test and multivariate logistic regression were performed to assess patient characteristics and clinicopathological variables between survivors and nonsurvivors.

RESULTS

The short-term mortality rate was 12.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.6%-19.7%). Univariate analysis identified plasma lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH; P < .001) and bilirubin concentration (P = .001) as being significantly increased in nonsurvivors, whereas concentrations of albumin (P = .003), total protein (P = .03), sodium (P = .005), and potassium (P = .005) were significantly lower. Additionally, nonsurvivors were significantly less likely to be febrile (≥39.4°C; P = .006). Of these variables, only plasma LDH activity ≥323 U/L, a cut-point determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, was significantly associated with short-term mortality by multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 15.30; 95% CI, 1.18-198.00; P = .04).

CONCLUSION

Increased plasma LDH activity might be useful for predicting short-term mortality, guiding monitoring, and establishing prognosis in cats with FIP.

Defining sepsis in small animals

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the definitions of sepsis in human and veterinary medicine.

DESIGN

International, multicenter position statement on the need for consensus definitions of sepsis in veterinary medicine.

SETTING

Veterinary private practice and university teaching hospitals.

ANIMALS

Dogs and cats.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition associated with the body's response to an infection. In human medicine, sepsis has been defined by consensus on 3 occasions, most recently in 2016. In veterinary medicine, there is little uniformity in how sepsis is defined and no consensus on how to identify it clinically. Most publications rely on modified criteria derived from the 1991 and 2001 human consensus definitions. There is a divergence between the human and veterinary descriptions of sepsis and no consensus on how to diagnose the syndrome. This impedes research, hampers the translation of pathophysiology insights to the clinic, and limits our abilities to optimize patient care. It may be time to formally define sepsis in veterinary medicine to help the field move forward. In this narrative review, we present a synopsis of prior attempts to define sepsis in human and veterinary medicine, discuss developments in our understanding, and highlight some criticisms and shortcomings of existing schemes.

CONCLUSIONS

This review is intended to serve as the foundation of current efforts to establish a consensus definition for sepsis in small animals and ultimately generate evidence-based criteria for its recognition in veterinary clinical practice.

Establishment of a reference interval for thiamine concentrations in healthy dogs and evaluation of the prevalence of absolute thiamine deficiency in critically ill dogs with and without sepsis using high-performance liquid chromatography

OBJECTIVE

To determine the normal reference interval (RI) for thiamine concentrations in healthy dogs and investigate the prevalence of thiamine deficiency in critically ill dogs with and without sepsis.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational, multicenter study, conducted between 2019 and 2021.

SETTING

Two veterinary university teaching hospitals.

ANIMALS

A total of 109 dogs were enrolled into 3 groups: 40 healthy dogs, 33 dogs with suspected or confirmed sepsis and evidence of tissue hypoperfusion (Doppler blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg or plasma lactate ≥3 mmol/L), and 36 dogs with other critical illnesses and evidence of tissue hypoperfusion.

INTERVENTIONS

For each dog, CBC, serum biochemistry, plasma lactate concentration, whole-blood thiamine concentration, blood pressure, vital parameters, Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation (APPLE)fast score, and clinical outcomes were recorded, alongside basic patient parameters and dietary history. Whole-blood thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The RI for whole-blood TPP in healthy dogs was 70.9-135.3 μg/L. Median TPP concentrations were significantly lower in septic dogs compared to healthy controls (P = 0.036). No significant difference in median TPP concentrations was found between septic dogs and nonseptic critically ill dogs, or between healthy dogs and nonseptic critically ill dogs. TPP concentrations were below the normal RI in 27.3% of septic dogs, compared to 19.4% of nonseptic critically ill dogs (P = 0.57). No correlations were found between TPP concentrations and lactate concentrations, age, body condition scores, time since last meal, RBC count, serum alanine aminotransferase, APPLEfast scores, or patient outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

TPP concentrations were significantly lower in septic dogs compared to healthy controls, with an absolute thiamine deficiency found in 27.3% of septic dogs. The established TPP RI allows for further investigation of thiamine deficiency in critically ill dogs.

Evaluation of quick sequential organ failure scores in dogs with severe sepsis and septic shock

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prognostic utility of the quick sequential organ failure assessment score in dogs with severe sepsis and septic shock presenting to an emergency service, and evaluate the clinical value of the quick sequential organ failure assessment score to predict severe sepsis and septic shock.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The quick sequential organ failure assessment score was calculated by evaluating respiratory rate (>22 breaths per minute), arterial systolic blood pressure (≤100 mmHg) and altered mentation. The quick sequential organ failure assessment scores with respiratory rate cut-offs of greater than 22, greater than 30 and greater than 40 were compared. Cases were defined as dogs presented to the emergency room and met at least 2 systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria, had documented infection, and at least one organ dysfunction. A control population of dogs included animals with non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

RESULTS

Forty-five dogs with severe sepsis and septic shock and 45 dogs with non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome were included in the final analysis. The quick sequential organ failure assessment provided poor discrimination between survivors and non-survivors for severe sepsis and septic shock (area under receiving operating characteristic curve, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.35 to 0.67). Discrimination remained poor when quick sequential organ failure assessment greater than 30 and quick sequential organ failure assessment greater than 40 scores were calculated (area under receiving operating characteristic curve, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.39 to 0.72, and 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.36 to 0.71). The quick sequential organ failure assessment of at least 2, quick sequential organ failure assessment greater than 30 of at least 2 and quick sequential organ failure assessment greater than 40 of at least 2 produced sensitivity and specificity to detect severe sepsis and septic shock of 66.7% and 64.5%, 62.2% and 71.1%, 44.4% and 80%, respectively.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Scoring systems utilised in emergency rooms should have high sensitivity to reduce missed sepsis cases and treatment delays. The use of the quick sequential organ failure assessment for severe sepsis and septic shock demonstrated poor mortality prediction and low sensitivity to detect canine patients with severe sepsis and septic shock and should not be used alone when screening for sepsis.