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Peritoneal Fluid Analysis: Basic Information

Peritoneal fluid analysis provides information about conditions in the abdominal cavity. It involves determining characteristics of the fluid like color and clarity, as well as measuring total protein, cell counts, and examining samples microscopically. Normal fluid is clear with low protein and cell counts. Abnormally high readings can indicate inflammation, infection, hemorrhage, or cancer. Different cell patterns and protein levels suggest specific causes like perforation, ischemia, or portal hypertension. Microscopic signs like erythrophagocytosis help identify hemorrhage. Reactive mesothelial cells are commonly seen but can resemble cancer cells.

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Noviano Benny Repi
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95 views1 page

Peritoneal Fluid Analysis: Basic Information

Peritoneal fluid analysis provides information about conditions in the abdominal cavity. It involves determining characteristics of the fluid like color and clarity, as well as measuring total protein, cell counts, and examining samples microscopically. Normal fluid is clear with low protein and cell counts. Abnormally high readings can indicate inflammation, infection, hemorrhage, or cancer. Different cell patterns and protein levels suggest specific causes like perforation, ischemia, or portal hypertension. Microscopic signs like erythrophagocytosis help identify hemorrhage. Reactive mesothelial cells are commonly seen but can resemble cancer cells.

Uploaded by

Noviano Benny Repi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Peritoneal Fluid Analysis

BASIC INFORMATION Packed cell volume (PCV) of the fluid with inflammation related to gastro
will be <1%. intestinal (GI) perforation or some
DEFINITION nonseptic types of peritonitis, tissue
PHYSIOLOGY necrosis/ischemia, or lymphatic
Complete peritoneal fluid analysis con
sists of determination of the fluids physi Peritoneal fluid is an ultrafiltrate of obstruction related to neoplasia or
cal characteristics (color, clarity, sample plasma, which serves as a lubricant inflammation.
volume), total protein as estimated by a around abdominal organs and allows the Effusions with lower cell counts and
refractometer, nucleated cell concentra diffusion of electrolytes and other sub total proteins (transudates to modified
tion, red blood cell concentration, and stances to and from the serosal surfaces transudates) can be seen as a result of
the microscopic examination of direct of the abdominal cavity. This fluid is hypoalbuminemia, congestive heart
and/or concentrated fluid slides. Addi normally removed from the peritoneal failure, portal hypertension, uroperito
tional tests are sometimes indicated. cavity by lymphatics in proportion to the neum, or neoplasia.
rate of production. The presence of red blood cells
TYPICAL NORMAL RANGE CAUSES OF ABNORMALLY indicates either true pathologic
(US UNITS; SI UNITS) HIGH LEVELS hemorrhage or iatrogenic blood
Normal peritoneal fluid is clear and Increased peritoneal fluid volume, cell contamination. In slides prepared
watery. In horses, even normal animals counts, and total protein can be seen from fresh samples, the presence of
will have enough peritoneal fluid for many different reasons. Increased erythrophagocytosis and sometimes
volume for sample collection. plasma hydrostatic pressure, decreased hemosiderin-laden macrophages are
Total protein is normally <2.5g/dL. plasma colloidal pressure, enteritis, evidence of true hemorrhage into the
Nucleated cell concentration is usually rupture of a visceral organ, tissue isch abdominal cavity.
<5,000/L but can vary, with some emia/necrosis, neoplasia, lymphatic With effusions of any nature, reactive
normal horses reported as having obstruction, or intraabdominal hemor mesothelial cells are commonly found
up to 10,000/L. The nucleated cells rhage can increase all of these param in peritoneal fluid samples. These can
are predominantly neutrophils, fewer eters to differing degrees. appear quite dysplastic, and in some
large mononuclear cells/macrophages, In general, effusions with the highest cases these cells cannot be reliably
and even fewer mature lymphocytes. nucleated cell counts and total protein differentiated from neoplastic cells.
concentrations (exudates) will be seen

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