Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Laser fenestration of the mesial septum for treatment of guttural pouch chondroids in a pony.
- Journal:
- Veterinary surgery : VS
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Gehlen, Heidrun & Ohnesorge, Bernhard
- Affiliation:
- Clinic for Horses · Germany
Plain-English summary
In this case, a pony had a problem with its left guttural pouch, which is a part of its throat, due to the presence of chondroids, or abnormal tissue growths. The veterinarians used a special laser technique to create an opening in the septum, which is the wall separating the two sides of the guttural pouch, allowing them to remove the chondroids. After the procedure, the pony showed significant improvement, with much less inflammation in the area. It was sent home with instructions for regular cleaning of the guttural pouch and was checked again two months later, at which point it was healthy and able to participate in carriage driving competitions. Overall, the laser treatment was successful in resolving the pony's issue.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe removal of guttural pouch chondroids through a laser fenestrated mesial septum in a pony with an obstructed pharyngeal ostium of the left guttural pouch. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS: Pony. METHODS: Transendoscopic laser neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) fenestration of the mesial guttural pouch septum was made by contact method (bare fiber, 15-25 W, exposure time 4 seconds). Dissected tissue was removed by transendoscopic monopolar electrosurgery (loop electrode, cutting blade) and multiple chondroids of varying size were removed from the left guttural pouch through the fenestration. RESULTS: After removing all chondroids and repeated flushing of the left guttural pouch via the right side, inflammation of the guttural pouch membranes decreased remarkably. The pony was discharged with instructions for transendoscopic lavage once weekly and was reevaluated at 2 months. A permanent septal fenestration was observed and the pony was free of abnormal clinical signs and being used for carriage driving competitions. CONCLUSION: Nd:YAG laser fenestration of the mesial septum is an approach for access to guttural pouch chondroids. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When guttural pouch empyema and/or chondroids is associated with adhesion of the pharyngeal ostium, laser fenestration of the mesial septum from the opposite guttural pouch should be considered as an alternative approach for access, rather than classic external surgical approaches.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16212594/