Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Use of videoendoscopy during exercise for determination of appropriate surgical treatment of laryngeal hemiplegia in a colt.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1989
- Authors:
- Stick, J A & Derksen, F J
- Affiliation:
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In this case, a Standardbred colt was having trouble with his breathing during exercise due to a condition called right-sided laryngeal hemiplegia, which is a paralysis affecting the larynx. The veterinarians used a special camera called videoendoscopy to look at the colt's throat while he was on a treadmill. They tried a couple of surgeries to fix the problem, but those didn't work. Eventually, they performed a more extensive surgery called total arytenoidectomy, which allowed the colt to breathe properly and race successfully. This study shows that using videoendoscopy during exercise can be a helpful way to diagnose and treat breathing issues in horses.
Abstract
Videoendoscopy of the larynx during treadmill exercise was used to determine the surgical treatment of upper airway obstruction in a Standardbred colt. Surgical correction of right-sided laryngeal hemiplegia, first by laryngoplasty, then subtotal arytenoidectomy, was ineffective. Videoendoscopy indicated, and upper airway flow mechanics confirmed, that the laryngeal opening was adequate at rest, but obstruction occurred during exercise. On the basis of the appearance of the larynx during high airflow rates on slow-motion playback of the videorecording, total arytenoidectomy was performed, which permitted the horse to race successfully. Videoendoscopy of the upper airway during exercise accurately predicted airflow impedance and permitted salvage of this racehorse, indicating that this is a practical, useful technique that will improve evaluation of upper airway obstructions in the horse.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2777710/