Lactate Concentration Measurement in Veterinary Critical Care
Summary
Lactate concentration has emerged as a pivotal biomarker in veterinary critical care, offering insight into tissue perfusion, oxygen delivery and metabolic derangements in a variety of species. Elevated blood lactate levels, or hyperlactataemia, often reflect a shift towards anaerobic metabolism in states of shock, sepsis or respiratory compromise. Rapid and reliable measurement of lactate at the point of care enables clinicians to stratify risk, guide resuscitation and monitor response to therapy in real time. Advances in handheld analysers and laboratory assays have expanded access to lactate monitoring in field settings, intensive care units and emergency rooms, fostering a more dynamic approach to patient assessment. Across companion, production and wildlife species, standardisation of sampling techniques, calibration protocols and interpretive thresholds remains an active area of research, with the ultimate aim of improving outcomes through timely intervention.
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Lactate Concentration Measurement in Veterinary Critical Care publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in lactate concentration measurement in veterinary critical care across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Hyperlactataemia: An elevated concentration of lactate in the blood, typically indicating impaired oxygen delivery or utilisation leading to anaerobic metabolism.
Lactate clearance: The percentage reduction in blood lactate concentration over a defined time period, reflecting the balance between lactate production and elimination.
Shock index: The ratio of heart rate to systolic blood pressure, used to assess haemodynamic compromise and guide fluid resuscitation.
Point-of-care analyser: A portable device that provides rapid measurement of blood analytes, such as lactate, at the bedside or in the field without the need for a central laboratory.
References
- The origin and interpretation of hyperlactataemia during low oxygen delivery states. Critical Care (2006).
- Prognostic value of lactate in cats presented in respiratory distress to the emergency room. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2022).
- Evaluation of Blood Lactate, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Shock Index, and Their Association with Prognosis in Calves. Veterinary Sciences (2024).
- Correlation between L-Lactate Concentrations in Beef Cattle, Obtained Using a Hand-Held Lactate Analyzer and a Lactate Assay Colorimetric Kit. Animals (2021).
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