Senior Lecturer in Equine Surgery University of Liverpool Neston, United Kingdom
Presentation aims: 1. To discuss biomarkers that enable us to identify critical gastrointestinal patients. 2. To discuss biomarkers that aid in prognostication and prediction of morbidities in gastrointestinal patients. Broad screening for metabolites and proteins has been able to show that specific biomarkers can be indicative of gastrointestinal lesions requiring surgical intervention in equine patients. Furthermore, screening at admission can be used to predict specific gastrointestinal disorders. Longitudinal evaluation of biomarkers can also be utilized to predict post-operative survival. These evaluations may also be beneficial in predicting the occurrence of specific morbidities in post-operative patients. This additional knowledge can aid clinicians in decision-making, prognostication and prediction of financial implications for owners. This presentation discusses current research in this area, as well as current and future applications of biomarker evaluation in gastrointestinal disease.