Evaluation of the Effects of Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Administration on Coagulation Parameters in Healthy Dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the administration of 20% intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) to healthy dogs at the standard antidotal dose induces a hypocoagulable state.

DESIGN

Prospective, nonblinded, crossover study.

SETTING

University teaching hospital.

ANIMALS: Twelve adult, purpose-bred Beagles with no history of recent illness or underlying endocrine disease.

INTERVENTIONS: Treated dogs received 20% ILE using a standard protocol for management of intoxications: 2 mL/kg bolus over 2 min, followed by 0.25 mL/kg/min for 60 min. Control dogs received lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) using the same dosing scheme. Dogs were randomly assigned to receive ILE or LRS, then received the alternate treatment after a 1-week washout period.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

Viscoelastic coagulation monitoring parameters using a benchtop viscoelastic coagulation monitor, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastic time, and platelet count were measured 5 min before and 5 min after interventions. Compared with LRS administration, there was an increase in clot formation time after ILE administration and a decrease in the alpha angle, amplitude at 10 min, and amplitude at 20 min. There was an increase in PT after LRS infusion. Otherwise, no differences were noted in PT, activated partial thromboplastic time, platelet counts, or remaining viscoelastic coagulation monitoring parameters for either group.

CONCLUSIONS

Viscoelastic findings were suggestive of a relative hypocoagulability after ILE administration. Although statistically significant, most of these values were still within the provided reference intervals, so the magnitude of change may not be clinically important. The increase in PT after LRS solution, while statistically significant, was clinically irrelevant. ILE was well tolerated at the antidotal dose and did not have a clinically relevant effect on coagulation in otherwise healthy dogs in this study.