Retrospective comparison of thromboelastography results to postmortem evidence of thrombosis in critically ill dogs: 39 cases (2005-2010).

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is an association between thromboelastography (TEG) data and necropsy evidence of thrombosis in a cohort of critically ill dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective study (2005-2010). SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Thirty-nine client-owned critically ill dogs for which TEG was performed within 7 days of complete necropsy. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thrombi were found in 26 (67%) dogs. Spayed females (n = 20) were significantly more likely to have thrombosis (P = 0.0127). No significant association was found between presence of thrombosis and any TEG parameter, the calculated coagulation index, results of coagulation testing, type of vascular access, or clinical diagnosis. D-dimers were significantly higher in dogs with thrombosis (P = 0.0207) and a weak positive correlation was found between D-dimer value and number of sites of thrombosis (ρ = 0.18, P = 0.0045). Dogs with WBC > 16 × 10(3) /μL were more likely to have thrombosis compared to others (odds ratio 5.56, 95% confidence interval 1.2-25.7, P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: This study found no association between any TEG parameter and the presence of thrombosis on postmortem examination.