Tear Production in Critically Ill Cats

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine whether the mean tear production in cats admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) was lower compared to this value in a control group. This is a prospective observational study set from February 2016 – May 2016, in the Utrecht University Intensieve Zorg Afdeling (IZA = ICU). In this study we observed 11 healthy control cats and 9 cats who were hospitalized in the ICU for treatment of systemic disease, without previously diagnosed ophthalmic disorders, no recent history of anesthesia and no dyspneic disease. Enrollment was also based on whether an intern Ophthalmology was available within 24 hours of admission of the cats. The tear production was measured by administering a Schirmer tear test strip (STT) in the healthy control animals as well as in the hospitalized feline patients on admission, in the morning and in the afternoon. The results are an average tear production in the control and patient group of 15,47 ± 5,82 mm/min and 11,19 ± 3,85 mm/min, respectively. This was found to be statistically significant at p=0,010. This study therefore demonstrates a decrease in tear production in feline ICU patients. However, no clinical relevance was found in this study. Further study is warranted to determine the underlying etiology of the decrease in tear production.