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  Discussion on Death upon infusion of serum
Author Message
Member:
Mosttime

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 5, 2006 - 9:30 pm:

Hi Dr. O,
An acquaintance of mine recently had a mare foal out a beautiful Andalusian colt, which by everyone's observations appeared quite healthy, nursing, running and playing in the field with the mare. At approximately 2 days old, a vet performed the blood test and insisted that the colt was very low on antibodies (I don't know the actual value of the result) and was permitted to infuse the colt. Witnesses say he performed the infusion extremely quickly, squeezing the bag to force the liquid into the foal rapidly. He completed the procedure, walked to his truck for something and returned perhaps 10 minutes later to check the foal and it was dead. An autopsy was performed and was inconclusive, but cause of death was listed anaphalactic shock. Is it proper to infuse the serum quickly and what is the likelihood of rejection or shock in the foal from this procedure? Those of us at my barn were all very saddened by this loss and are looking to understand what might have happened.
Member:
Corinne

Posted on Thursday, Jul 6, 2006 - 1:36 am:

So sorry Carole to hear of the little fellow at your barn....I am curious as to what Dr O will have to say. Was it some sort of immunoglobulins? I have administered those before to humans (in the PICU) and there are reaction potentials and rates of administration that are appropriate. Not questioning the actions of the vet but I sure hope that a slower infusion, so that an allergic reaction could be detected and treatment stopped, was not called for.
Hope you get some information!

Take care.

Corinne
Member:
Eoeo

Posted on Thursday, Jul 6, 2006 - 2:58 am:

When our foal was infused, it took almost 2 hours. I would say the vet SCREWED up.
EO
Member:
Banthony

Posted on Thursday, Jul 6, 2006 - 9:59 am:

Carole,
So sorry to hear about the foal. The same thing happened at a farm I was working on several years ago. The foal was an neonatal isoerythrolysis foal and so wasn't allowed to nurse her mother's colostrum. A substitute colostrum was used but the IgG came back border line.

Because of the value of the foal - the stud fee was $50,000 it was decided to give her plasma (which is supposed to be universal.) The foal went into anaphylactic shock while getting the plasma. She died even though all resuscitative efforts were made.

A very sad end to a beautiful filly.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 6, 2006 - 10:49 am:

Hello All,
Because I was not there and don’t know what product was given, the quantity, or the time I don’t feel it is right to make judgements about this particular incident. After all you don’t know what the outcome would have been with slower or even no administration.

However we can discuss how serum should be given. In general Corrine and LKR are right: substances with the potential for anaphylaxis, and that includes serum products, are to given slowly for the reasons Corrine gives. If there is going to be a reaction it gives you more time to react with less substance in the blood.
DrO
Member:
Mosttime

Posted on Thursday, Jul 6, 2006 - 10:33 pm:

Hello Everyone & DrO,
Thank you so much for all the replies. I am sorry I don't have more details of what the vet used etc. The owner is understandably upset and I don't want to pry to get the information. However, the information you all have given shows that this terrible thing can happen, and it may or may not have been faulty procedure. We will just never know for sure. If I get more info I will post it. Thanks again for the help!
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