Which of the following is NOT a contributor to mortality in dogs with polytrauma?

• A. Cardiovascular injury
• B. Prolonged anesthetic times
• C. SIRS
• D. Renal failure

Answer: (D)

In polytrauma, survival hinges on maintaining adequate circulation and controlling the body’s inflammatory response. Cardiovascular injury directly impairs heart function and blood pressure, causing tissue hypoperfusion and rapid organ decline. Prolonged anesthetic times worsen this by extending periods of low blood flow and oxygen delivery, and by adding further cardiovascular and respiratory stress. A systemic inflammatory response syndrome represents an exaggerated reaction to trauma that drives widespread capillary leak, edema, coagulopathy, and multiple organ dysfunction, all of which push the patient toward mortality. Renal failure, while serious and linked to worse outcomes, typically develops as part of the downstream cascade of shock and organ injury rather than being the immediate, primary cause of death in the acute polytrauma scenario.