Introduction

Trauma induce coagulopathy (TIC) is reported in people following trauma, however this phenomenon has not been clearly defined in dogs. Coagulation factor depletion, platelet hypofunction and hyperfibrinolysis contribute to TIC in people. The aim of this study was to assess platelet function and fibrinolysis in dogs following trauma.

Methods

Twenty client owned dogs with recent history of trauma (<24 hr prior to admission) and animal trauma triage score (ATT) of >4 were prospectively recruited. A control group of 10 healthy blood donor dogs were included. Within the trauma group, clinical and biochemical markers of shock, treatment, duration of hospitalisation and outcome were recorded. Platelet function was measured using multiplate electrical impedance aggregometry (MEPA) on hirudin anticoagulated blood samples utilising arachidonic acid (AA), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen (COL) agonists. Fibrinolysis was assessed in citrated whole blood reconstituted with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA 50 U/ml) using kaolin activated thromboelastography. Conventional statistical analysis was performed to compare coagulation parameters between the groups. Correlation between ATT and coagulation parameters was measured using Spearman’s correlation coefficient.

Results

The median (IQR) ATT score was 5 (2) and 65% of dogs suffered polytrauma. Sixteen dogs (80%) had received treatment prior to referral. The mean (±SD) time from trauma to blood sampling was 9 hours (±6). The median shock index and plasma lactate concentration were 1.1 (1.3, n=16) and 2.9 mmol/L (1.9 n=17) respectively, the mean base excess (BE) was -3.48 (±2.4, n=14). Blood products were administered to 4 dogs (20%). Tranexamic acid was administered to 1 dog. The mean duration of hospitalisation was 8 days (±4). Four dogs did not survive to discharge from the hospital (20%). There was no difference between the trauma and control group for any of the MEPA and thromboelastographic variables. There was a moderate negative correlation between ATT score and AUC for ADP, with an increased ATT score correlated with lower AUC for ADP (p=0.043, r2=-0.496).

Conclusion

Platelet function measured by MEPA and fibrinolysis measured by thromboelastography was not significantly different in dogs with trauma compared to healthy dogs. In this population of traumatised dogs, TIC was not detected.

Disclosures

No disclosures to report.

This work was funded by a grant awarded by PetSavers—a Division of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association.