Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
History, instrumentation, and techniques of flexible endoscopic laser surgery in horses.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
- Year:
- 2000
- Authors:
- Blikslager, A T & Tate, L P
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Flexible endoscopic laser surgery is becoming a popular choice for treating various conditions in horses, and the Nd:YAG laser is noted for its versatility. This type of laser can be used in different ways depending on the situation; for instance, using it without touching the tissue is better for removing growths in the upper airway, while using it in direct contact is more effective for precise cuts, like when dealing with epiglottic entrapment (a condition where the epiglottis gets trapped). Although having a variety of lasers can be costly, it can lead to better treatment outcomes for different health issues in horses.
Abstract
There are clearly a number of applications for which flexible endoscopic laser surgery has become the state of the art in equine surgery, and the Nd:YAG laser seems to be the most versatile instrument for this type of surgery. Nevertheless, it is critical to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each laser technique. For example, the Nd:YAG laser used in a noncontact fashion seems to be superior when ablation of tissue is required such as treatment of upper airway masses. Conversely, contact Nd:YAG laser techniques have proven themselves to be superior when more precise cutting is advantageous such as treatment of epiglottic entrapment. Ultimately, it seems that a range of lasers is necessary to ensure selection of the most appropriate technique, adding significantly to the expense of equipment but improving the outcome for a range of equine diseases.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14983905/