Comparison of three blood sampling sites, for physiometabolic evaluation piglets

Blood drawing of newborn piglets is necessary for physio-metabolic profiles assessment, and to determine gas change levels in it, what is used in various phenomena diagnosis, such as, intrapartum asphyxia a non-infectious condition that causes a high rate of neonatal mortality in pigs. This study aimed to test three of the most common blood sampling sites used in piglets: umbilical cord (UC), retro-orbital sinus (ROS), and cava vein (VC), besides determining the differences among them, concerning to physio-metabolic variables and the acid-base balance. Thirty-two healthy non asphyxiated piglets were randomly selected, coming from nine eutocic farrowing to carry out the three sampling sites. All of the physio-metabolic concentrations determined showed basal values within normal fetal ranges corresponding to the sampling site. However, UC values were more suitable for gas exchange diagnosis in asphyxia due to their similarity with physiological parameters of a normal newborn (pCO2= 36.10 +/- 2.03, pO2= 32.68 +/- 3.03), whereas for the metabolic profile (glucose and lactate) ROS values were more accurate for measuring a common lactate and glycaemia profile than the other sites. Therefore, when a physio-metabolic profile is required, the methodological approach of the blood sampling site should be adequate to obtain the data needed for research following planned objectives and subsequent interpretation.