Endoscopy in horses refers to a diagnostic procedure that involves the use of an endoscope, a flexible tube equipped with a camera and light, to visually examine the interior surfaces of equine organs and tissues. This technique is commonly employed to investigate conditions affecting the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and other internal structures. Endoscopy allows for direct visualization and assessment of abnormalities such as lesions, obstructions, or inflammation. It can also be used to obtain biopsies or remove foreign bodies. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the applications, methodologies, and clinical relevance of endoscopy in equine medicine.
Almonte H, Schumacher J, Johnson CR, Berk JT, Bell RP.To the authors' knowledge, the effect of a combination of butorphanol tartrate and detomidine hydrochloride on the laryngeal function and symmetry of the arytenoid cartilages in young Thoroughbred horses has not been examined. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of administration of butorphanol and detomidine on left-to-right rima glottidis ratio (L:R RGR), cross-sectional area of the rima glottidis (CSARG) and grade of laryngeal function of Thoroughbred yearlings examined endoscopically at rest. Forty-six Thoroughbred yearlings underwent laryngeal video endoscopy, at rest, befo...
Cercone M.This article provides a comprehensive review of imaging techniques used to evaluate the equine urinary tract. This overview includes officially recognized modalities and new applications reported in the most current literature. Technical aspects and indications for use of endoscopy and ultrasonography are highlighted. Normal endoscopic and ultrasonographic appearance of the upper and lower urinary tract is described, with characterization of common abnormalities found in patients with hematuria, stranguria, and renal failure. Visual examples of several pathologic conditions from clinical cases...
Ahern BJ, Sole A, de Klerk K, Hogg LR, Vallance SA, Bertin FR, Franklin SH.Upper airway endoscopy of thoroughbred (TB) yearlings is commonly used in an attempt to predict laryngeal function (LF) and its impact on future race performance. The aim of this study was to determine if different grading systems and laryngeal grades were correlated with future performance. Methods: Postsale endoscopic recordings were obtained from an Australian TB yearling sale during a four-year period from 2008 to 2011. Horses were included if they had a diagnostic postsale video endoscopic recording and raced within Australia. Recordings were graded using the Havemeyer system and subseque...
Busechian S, Marchesi MC, Vuerich M, Corsalini J, Nannarone S, Arcelli R, Ortolani F, Rueca F, Gialletti R.Ureteral endoscopy is a routine procedure in human medicine, whereas the reports of this procedure on horses are few and far between. The aim of this paper is to describe the endoscopic technique to evaluate the ureters in standing, sedated horses. An endoscopy of the ureters and lower urinary tract was performed using flexible endoscopes on 4 horses, 3 mares and one gelding. The animals were sedated with alpha-2-agonists and an epidural anaesthesia was given. An endoscopy of the ureter in the horse is easy to perform, causes the animal no adverse effects and could provide significant informat...
Lepage OM, Di Francesco P, Moulin N, Gangl M, Texier G, Marchi J, Cadoré JL.Background: The management of bleeding originating from the guttural pouch (GP) has a high success rate, but the resolution of the macroscopic inflammatory lesions in the case of mycosis (GPM) is highly variable; the resolution of neurological disorders is inconstant and challenging. Objectives: Our aim was to test the feasibility and safety of topical oxygen therapy (TOT) in horses after induction of GPM and in cases with naturally occurring disease. Study design: This study was an in vivo experimental and retrospective two-phase study. Methods: During phase 1, the pilot study, both GPs were ...
Mild-moderate (MEA), severe (SEA) equine asthma and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) are common respiratory disorders in horses. The present retrospective study aims to evaluate the role of ultrasonography and endoscopy in the diagnosis of these conditions. Three hundred and three horses were included and divided into SEA, MEA and MEA + EIPH groups, on the basis of history, clinical examination and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALf) cytology; scores were assigned to lung ultrasonography, pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (PLH), tracheal mucus (TM) and tracheal bifurcation edema (TB)...
Baldwin CM, Morgan RE, Crawford AL, Villarino NF, Rubio-Martínez LM.(1) To describe the computed tomography (CT) and gross anatomy of the equine extensor carpi radialis sheath (ECRS) and common digital extensor sheath (CDETS); (2) to describe a single-portal endoscopic examination of the ECRS and CDETS. Methods: Ex vivo experimental. Methods: Thirty clinically normal cadaver thoracic equine limbs severed at the humeral diaphysis. Methods: Ten limbs underwent plain and intrathecal contrast CT examinations and gross dissection of the ECRS and CDETS. Single-portal endoscopic examination of ECRS and CDETS was attempted in 4 limbs and endoscopic examination was per...
Ferreira TH, Allen M, De Gasperi D, Buhr KA, Morello SL.To assess the effects of two sizes of silicone endotracheal tubes with internal diameter 26 mm (ETT) and 30 mm (ETT) inflated to minimum occlusive volume on tracheal and laryngeal mucosa of adult horses anesthetized for 2 hours with isoflurane. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover experimental study. Methods: A total of eight healthy adult mares. Methods: Upper airway endoscopy and ultrasound measurements of internal tracheal diameter were performed the day before anesthesia. Horses were anesthetized and orotracheally intubated with ETT or ETT. Ease of intubation was scored. Th...
Velloso Alvarez A, Boone L, Horzmann K, Hanson RR.To combine laparoscopic techniques with natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (hybrid NOTES) to minimize number and enlargement of paralumbar laparoscopic portals for bilateral ovariectomy in standing, sedated mares. Methods: Case series. Methods: Six horses. Methods: Six mares with palpably normal ovaries were restrained in stocks, sedated, and had caudal epidural anesthesia performed. A 7.5 MHz ultrasound probe was used transvaginally to select placement of vaginotomy. An attempt was made to remove both ovaries with 70 cm esophageal forceps through the vaginotomy, while visualiz...
Vlaminck L, Pollaris E, Vanderperren K, Tremaine WH, Raes E.Idiopathic sino-nasal obstruction resulting in retention of large amounts of liquid in the paranasal sinus compartments was diagnosed in seven young (2. 2 ± 0.7 years) miniature-breed horses based on clinical, endoscopic, radiographic, and CT scan examinations. The most prevalent clinical signs included decreased or no airflow from the nostril(s) (7/7) and nasal discharge (6/7). The problem presented bilaterally in six of seven cases. An alternative sino-nasal communication was created through bone flap osteotomy surgery and perforation of the ventromedial floor of the dorsal conchae in all c...
Cock G, Darby S, Freeman DE, Gomez DE.Esophageal obstruction is a common disorder in equids usually caused by intraluminal impaction with roughage and/or other feed material. Esophageal obstructions can also be caused by foreign bodies, but they are rarely reported and information regarding diagnosis and management is lacking. This report describes an esophageal obstruction in a donkey caused by a metallic foreign body removed using endoscopic guidance. Recognition of the foreign body facilitated treatment and underscores the importance of imaging in such cases to prevent dislodgement of the object to more aboral sites where acces...
Sasaki N, Nishi Y, Fujiwara Y, Takeyama T, Kumagai H, Senarathna S, Ushiya S, Tokuyama T, Tokuyama T, Tokuyama T, Mii T, Ayaki S, Matsuno K....Gastric ulcers cause appetite loss, poor body condition, and colic in horses. This study investigated the protective effect of a rice fermented extract on the gastric mucosa in 17 healthy Thoroughbreds. For one month, horses in the rice fermented extract (nine horses) and control (eight horses) groups were orally administered a rice fermented extract (100%; 0.2 ml/kg, SID) and tap water (0.2 ml/kg), respectively. Gastric endoscopic images were obtained before and one month after rice fermented extract administration. The gastric ulcer score was lower after administration (median, 1; maximum, 2...
Fitzharris LE, Franklin SH, McConnell AK, Hezzell MJ, Allen KJ.Exercise-induced upper airway collapse (UAC) probably occurs when the stabilising muscles of the upper airway are unable to withstand the dramatic changes in airflow and pressure that occurs during exercise. In racehorses, the mainstay of treatment is surgical intervention. In human athletes, exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction has been treated successfully with inspiratory muscle training (IMT). The aims of this study were: (1) to assess the feasibility of IMT in racehorses; and (2) describe the exercising endoscopy findings pre- and post-IMT in racehorses diagnosed with dynamic UAC. Horse...
Perez JA, Hutton AE, Cudd SK, Brown JA.To describe a novel standing trans-nasal endoscopic guided CO2 laser fenestration approach to access the sphenopalatine sinus (SPS) in the horse. Methods: Case report. Methods: Cadaver study and client-owned 20-year-old Warmblood gelding. Methods: The rostral palatine bone within the nasopharynx was investigated as a possible site for fenestration to access the SPS in cadavers. The ability to fenestrate the SPS was tested in cadavers using a flexible endoscope and CO2 laser fiber inserted via biopsy channel. The fenestration procedure was then performed in a clinical case presented for unilate...
Caffey SR, Lund CM, Farnsworth KD, Fransson BA, Ragle CA.The effects of head position on internal carotid artery (ICA) and external carotid artery (ECA) pressures in standing sedated horses were evaluated in this study. The common carotid artery (CCA) was catheterized in 6 horses using an ultrasound-guided technique to facilitate placement of a pressure transducer within the ICA and ECA at the level of the guttural pouch. Transducer position was confirmed by endoscopic visualization. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured with horses in both a head-up and head-down position. The dorsal metatarsal artery was catheterized as a control. Maintaining ...
François I, Lepage OM, Carpenter E, Desjardins I, De Guio C, Benedetti IC, Maddens S, Saulnier N, Grant BD.To determine the feasibility of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) transplantation into the cervical spinal cord of horses by using fluoroscopy with or without endoscopic guidance and to evaluate the neurological signs and tissue reaction after injection. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Eight healthy adult horses with no clinical signs of neurological disease. Methods: After cervical ventral interbody fusion (CVIF), ten million fluorescently labeled allogeneic UC-MSC were injected into the spinal cord under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance (n = 5) or fluoroscopic...
Caspers MK, Bell CD, Tatarniuk DM.Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and owner satisfaction following electrosurgical ventriculocordectomy (EVC), in conjunction with prosthetic laryngoplasty, in equine clinical cases affected with left- or right-sided recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. Methods: Retrospective data analysis of clinical signalment, surgery, athletic outcome, intra- and postoperative complications, and postoperative examinations from clinical cases wherein EVC was performed in conjunction with traditional prosthetic laryngoplasty from one practice. Owners were contacted by pho...
Pezzanite LM, Griffenhagen GM, Krause DM, Hendrickson DA.Prophylactic perioperative antimicrobial protocols in equine synovial endoscopy have been described but not compared with respect to post-operative outcomes and complications. Increasing antimicrobial resistance in equine practice and interest in promoting judicious use of antimicrobials has prompted reevaluation of drug selection and dosing strategies. To determine the frequency of and compare post-operative complications following elective synovial endoscopy between horses receiving different perioperative antimicrobial protocols. Records from the Colorado State University Veterinary Teachin...
Joó K, Duque Betancourt D, Vasquez Marin T, Parra Moyano LA.The dynamic upper airway functional (URT) problems of Colombian paso horses (CPH) have not been investigated in literature up to date. These horses perform special walking gaits with high poll flexion of the neck. Our goal is to evaluate the upper airway mechanics in CPH, showing abnormal respiratory sounds and poor performance during exercise. Resting and overground endoscopy was performed in 40 CPHs. Statistical analyses were performed using the sciPy package. One-tailed Fisher exact tests were used to check for positive contingency between each pair of upper respiratory tract disorder (P < ...
Palozzo A, Celani G, Varasano V, Marruchella G, Petrizzi L.Equine sinonasal myxomas (SNM) are very rare; only a few cases/small case series are reported in veterinary literature. The purpose of this report is to describe the diagnostic and surgical procedure adopted to approach the neoplastic mass in a case of equine SNM. A 5 year old, Murgese gelding was presented with mild serous nasal discharge, minimal facial swelling, decreased airflow from the right nostril, and dull frontal sinus percussion. Diagnostic imaging, including endoscopy, revealed a pale mass in the caudal portion of the right middle meatus, which developed inside the right conchofron...
Hahn K, Conze TM, Wollanke B, Distl O, Goehring LS, Witte TS.A 5-month-old draft horse filly was presented with incontinence and severe perivulvar dermatitis, which developed during the previous 2 months. Left-sided ectopic ureter entering in the caudal vaginal lumen, signs of cervix hypoplasia, and urine accumulation in the uterus were found during initial vaginal endoscopy. Therefore, a left ureter-nephrectomy was conducted under general anesthesia. Additionally, a cytogenetic examination was performed, which showed a XO monosomy with a 63,X/64,XX mosaic. This is the first case report presenting a chromosome abnormality in a draft horse filly combine...
Joó K, Povázsai Á, Nyerges-Bohák Z, Szenci O, Kutasi O.It is important to treat the upper and lower respiratory tracts as a single unit, as lower respiratory tract diseases can often cause upper respiratory functional disorders, whereas upper respiratory obstructions could be a factor in lower respiratory problems. The present study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that asthmatic diseases may be an underlying cause of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in horses. Pleasure or sport horses (n = 57) with a history of asthmatic disease were incorporated in the study. All horses were examined in the exacerbation phase of the asthmatic disease. ...
True CK, Dotzel AR.Oral endoscopy is a valuable addition to the equine dental examination process. It enables veterinarians to visualize subtle oral disorders and is a useful client education tool. There are several commercially available oral endoscopic systems on the market. Practitioners can also assemble their own systems. An oral endoscope is used to perform a thorough and systematic oral examination and to visualize normal oral structures as well as oral disorders. It is also used to guide instrument placement during oral surgeries and other dental procedures.
Claffey EF, Ducharme NG.The nasal conchal bullae (dorsal and ventral) are separate, air-filled structures within their respective dorsal and ventral nasal conchae. Computed tomography scans have assisted with the increasing diagnosis of empyema of the nasal conchae. This condition is usually associated with dental or sinus disease. Drainage of affected bullae is considered critical for resolution of clinical signs. The ventral conchal bullae can be easily viewed with a standard 10 mm diameter flexible endoscopy via the middle nasal meatus. This approach can also be used for fenestration of the bullae, using a diode ...
Tallon R, Hewetson M.Equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) is recognised as a separate entity to equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and it is recommended that lesions are graded differently. Currently, no validated scoring system exists for EGGD. Objective: To determine inter-observer reliability of two previously described grading systems for EGGD and to assess if agreement improved with gastroscopy experience, specialist training or familiarity with the descriptive system. Methods: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: A link to an electronic questionnaire containing 20 images of glandular lesions was circulate...
Abdelnaby EA, Emam IA, Salem NY, Ramadan ES, Khattab MS, Farghali HA, Abd El Kader NA.This study aimed to evaluate the use of Doppler ultrasound for determining alterations in uterine thickness and uterine arteries, use of chromohysteroscopy in evaluating endometritis with biopsies, and the impact of endometritis on oxidative and hormonal status. Twenty Arabian mares were divided into control and endometritis groups. Each underwent a physical examination, Doppler ultrasound, chromoendoscopy, and uterine biopsy. Blood samples from each animal were collected for hematologic, hormonal, and oxidative analysis. Results revealed a significant increase in estradiol, malondialdehyde (M...
Scheeren VFC, Sancler-Silva YFR, El-Sheikh Ali H, Kastelic JP, Alvarenga MA, Papa FO.Seminal vesiculitis in stallions reduces fertility and is often underdiagnosed. The most common cause is infection of seminal vesicles by bacteria capable of forming biofilms and a propensity for tissue persistence, for example, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Achieving a clinical cure is challenging because of a high rate of recurrence. Systemic antibiotic therapy does not reach adequate therapeutic concentrations within the seminal vesicles; one alternative is endoscopy-guided, local antibiotic infusion into the gland lumen, with or without concurrent systemic antibiotics. Current diagnostic and the...
Ponthier J, de la Rebière G, Salciccia A, Deleuze S.In mares, endometrial cysts are associated with endometriosis and can cause maternal recognition failure or compromise and delay pregnancy diagnoses. Historical treatments were invasive and had adverse effects on the endometrium. Hysteroscopically guided laser therapy is easy and effective for endometrial cysts resection, with no deleterious effects for the endometrium. A 110 cm long and 1.0 cm wide endoscope is sterilely introduced in the uterus through the open cervix of an estrous mare after vulvar cleaning. The uterus is slowly infused with less than 1 L of physiologic solution and the las...
Steinmann M, Bezugley RJ, Bond SL, Pomrantz JS, Léguillette R.Capsule endoscopy offers a new method for visualization of the gastrointestinal mucosa in horses where other imaging technologies have diagnostic limitations. Objective: To (1) test the feasibility of using this novel endoscopy capsule to visualize intestinal mucosa in horses, including an objective assessment of image quality, (2) assess how changes in preadministration preparation affect the transit time and the amount of gastrointestinal mucosa visualized, and (3) describe intestinal mucosa lesions in healthy horses. Methods: Five healthy adult horses. Methods: Three protocols were used in ...
Ronaldson HL, Monticelli P, Smith R, Adami C.A 13-year-old Shire horse was anesthetized for an elective orthopedic procedure. During recovery from anesthesia, the occurrence of severe acute dyspnea required a second anesthetic to allow endoscopy-guided nasotracheal intubation. Endoscopic findings were decreased mobility and swelling of the arytenoids with narrowing of the laryngeal aditus. Owing to a dislodgement of the nasotracheal tube during recovery, a third anesthetic was carried out to perform emergency tracheostomy. Recovery from the third anesthetic was long and the horse developed a post-anesthetic myopathy. The clinical conditi...
Ludwig A, Gatineau S, Reynaud MC, Cadoré JL, Bourdoiseau G.This aetiological study of guttural pouch mycosis (GPM) in the horse was based on the retrospective study of 21 horses brought into the National Veterinary School of Lyon (France) between 1998 and 2002. Biopsies were taken from the lesions caused by GPM during endoscopic examination. In 87% of the cases, direct examination gave positive results, whereas 43% of the cultures were found to be negative. The main fungi observed were Aspergillus fumigatus (in three cases), A. versicolor (in two cases, together with other fungi), and A. nidulans and A. niger (one case each). In six cases, the Aspergi...
Pollock PJ, Reardon RJ, Parkin TD, Johnston MS, Tate J, Love S.There are potential advantages to imaging the upper portion of the respiratory tract (URT) of horses during ridden exercise. With the advent of a wireless endoscope, this is now possible. However, there has been no detailed validation of the technique and findings have not been compared to ridden speed. Objective: To assess the combined use of a Dynamic Respiratory Scope (DRS) and global positioning system (GPS) receiver for examining the URT of a group of Thoroughbred racehorses randomly selected from a single flat racehorse training establishment. Methods: Horses were selected randomly from ...
Mönki J, Hewetson M, Virtala AM.Equine gastric glandular disease (EGGD) is a term used to classify erosive and ulcerative diseases of the glandular mucosa of the equine stomach. Epidemiologic studies of risk factors for EGGD have not been reported. Objective: To determine risk factors for EGGD. Methods: Cases (n = 83) had endoscopic evidence of EGGD; controls (n = 34) included healthy horses and horses with equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) without EGGD. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. The data were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression modeling. Analysis was performed on the full dataset. An addi...
Doucet MY, Viel L.The objective of this study was to determine if a quantitative scoring system for evaluation of hemosiderin content of alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalevolar lavage provides a more sensitive test for the detection of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in horses than does endoscopy of the lower airways. A sample population composed of 74 Standardbred racehorses aged 2-5 years was used. Horses were grouped as either control (EIPH-negative) or EIPH-positive based on history and repeated postexertional endoscopic evaluation of the bronchial airways. Bronchoalveolar lavage was p...
Roy MA, Vrins A, Beauchamp G, Doucet MY.This study was performed to determine the prevalence of ulcers in the gastric squamous mucosa in Standardbred racehorses. Observations were performed at monthly intervals between the beginning of their training season and their 1st qualifying race. This study also identified risk factors at different levels of race training. Forty-eight Standardbred racehorses from 3 training stables in Quebec, Canada, were studied. Baseline historical information and gastroscopic findings were recorded at the beginning of the trial, and once a month thereafter, between December 2001 and June 2002, until the h...
Furr MO, Murray MJ, Ferguson DC.Sixteen neonatal foals stressed by disease underwent endoscopic examination of their stomachs and blood was assayed for triiodothyronine (T3), reverse T3 (rT3), thyroxine (T4) and cortisol, to determine the effects of severe physiological stress and the occurrence of gastric ulcers. compared with eight age-matched controls, six foals had abnormal cortisol, seven had abnormal T3 and 12 had abnormal T4. Eleven of 13 foals had rT3 outside the 95 per cent confidence interval for clinically normal foals of comparable ages. Gastric lesions were seen more frequently in stressed foals, and gastric gla...
Rehder RS, Ducharme NG, Hackett RP, Nielan GJ.To determine whether abnormal airway pressures have a role in development of dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), measurements of tracheal and pharyngeal pressures were correlated with nasopharyngeal morphology in exercising horses. Exercising videoendoscopy and measurement of tracheal and pharyngeal pressures were used in 14 clinically normal horses and 19 horses with intermittent DDSP. The pressure signals were superimposed on the videoendoscope image, and both images were saved simultaneously on a videocassette for slow motion analysis to determine the instant displacement occurre...
Franklin SH, Naylor JR, Lane JG.Tongue-ties are frequently used in an attempt to prevent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a tongue-tie in horses clinically affected with the disorder. Videoendoscopic recordings and measurements of respiratory airflow were made simultaneously during high intensity treadmill exercise in 6 Thoroughbred racehorses with confirmed DDSP, with and without a tongue-tie. DDSP was confirmed in all 6 horses without the tongue-tie but occurred in only 4 horses with the tongue-tie in place. In one horse the palate displaced only on slowi...
Prange T, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Garcia-Pereira FL, Carr EA.Despite modern medical diagnostic imaging, it is not possible to identify reliably the exact location of spinal cord compression in horses with cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM). Vertebral canal endoscopy has been successfully used in man and a technique for cervical vertebral canal endoscopy (CVCE) has been described in equine cadavers. Objective: To determine the feasibility and safety of CVCE in healthy mature horses. Methods: Six healthy mature horses were anaesthetised. A flexible videoendoscope was subsequently introduced via the atlanto-occipital space into the epidural spac...
Smith MR, Wright IM, Smith RK.Clinical lesions of the deep digital flexor tendon and navicular bone are being reported with increasing frequency. However, the role of direct visualisation by navicular bursoscopy in the diagnosis and management of such injuries has not been explored. Objective: Navicular bursoscopy: 1) corroborates information obtained from other, noninvasive imaging modalities; 2) allows direct visualisation of lesions unidentified by other diagnostic modalities; 3) provides further information on morphology of lesions; and 4) permits minimally invasive surgical access to lesions. Methods: The case records...
Dixon PM, McGorum BC, Railton DI, Hawe C, Tremaine WH, Pickles K, McCann J.Examination of the long-term histories and clinical findings was performed in 351 horses suffering from recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) to examine for possible evidence of progression of this disorder. Fifty-two out of 351 cases (15%) had evidence of progression of the degree of laryngeal dysfunction over a median period of 12 months (range 1.5-48 months) with the onset of progression occurring at median age 7 years. In 30 cases, there was both endoscopic (median deterioration of 3 endoscopic grades; range 1-5 grades) and clinical evidence, with 29 (97%) of these horses concurrently devel...
Frank N, Andrews FM, Elliott SB, Lew J.To assess antiulcerogenic properties of 3 dietary oils. Methods: 8 healthy adult mares. Methods: A protocol to induce gastric ulcers was used and included 240 mL of water plus corn oil, refined rice bran oil, or crude rice bran oil administered each day for 6 weeks according to a 4 x 4 Latin square randomized crossover design with 5-week washout intervals. A 7-day alternating feed deprivation period was included between weeks 5 and 6. Omeprazole was administered daily for the last 14 days of each washout interval. Endoscopic examinations of the stomach were performed at 0, 5, and 6 weeks, and ...
Shaw SD, Norman TE, Arnold CE, Coleman MC.The objective of this case series was to characterize the population, case presentations, and outcomes of 28 equids diagnosed with cleft palate over a 25-year period. The incidence of cleft palate was 0.04%. The median age at presentation was 2 mo (range: 1 d to 3 y). Fifty percent of the animals were < 2 mo old, 21% were ≥ 2 mo but < 1 y old, and 29% were 1 y of age or older. Males and females were nearly equally represented. Short-term outcomes included euthanasia in 50%, surgical repair in 11%, supportive care in 4%, and no treatment in 32% of cases; 46% of the animals survived to d...
Rakestraw PC, Hackett RP, Ducharme NG, Nielan GJ, Erb HN.Endoscopic examinations of the larynx were recorded on 49 horses at rest and while exercising on a 5% inclined high-speed treadmill for 8 minutes at a maximum speed of 8.5 m/sec. Subjective laryngeal function scores at rest and while exercising were based on the degree and synchrony of arytenoid abduction. Arytenoid abduction was expressed as a left:right ratio of rima glottidis measurements. Horses with arytenoid cartilage asynchrony at rest (grade 2) could not be distinguished from normal horses (grade 1) when exercising because full abduction was maintained throughout the exercise period. F...
Hackett RP, Ducharme NG, Fubini SL, Erb HN.Videorecordings of the laryngeal activity of 108 unsedated horses were obtained at rest by passing a flexible videoendoscope into the nasopharynx through the right ventral meatus. All videotaped images were reviewed once, and 72 were reviewed twice, by three veterinarians. Laryngeal cartilage movement was assessed subjectively with a five-tier grading system. The mean intraobserver agreement was 83.3% (range, 75.0%-90.2%) with a kappa statistic of .65 to .98. The mean interobserver agreement was 79.0% (range, 70.4%-80.6%) with a kappa statistic of .51 to .90. A computer program was developed t...
Birks EK, Shuler KM, Soma LR, Martin BB, Marconato L, Del Piero F, Teleis DC, Schar D, Hessinger AE, Uboh CE.The incidence and severity of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) in the 2 most commonly raced horse breeds, Thoroughbreds (TB) and Standardbreds (STD), were studied, with particular interest in the possible influence of frusemide (F) and/or the breed (or running gait) on EIPH. The appearance of blood within the trachea was semi-quantified using a published 5-point system, with zero assigned when no blood was observed, and numbers 1-4 assigned with increasing amounts of blood. Considering each endoscopic examination as a separate event, approximately 75% of the postrace endoscopic ex...
Costa MF, Thomassian A.To our knowledge no studies evaluating risk factors to EIPH have been undertaken with such a population of horses in Brazil, which is one of the few countries in the racing community to accept the use of frusemide (FUR) as a prerace medication for bleeders. We also compared national results with those already in the literature. Objective: To verify the influence of variables such as distance of the race, racetrack surface, going and season of the year in the recurrence and severity of EIPH and its effect on the finishing position of flat racing Thoroughbreds in Brazil. Methods: 2118 post race ...
Simhofer H, Griss R, Zetner K.The main objective of this study was to evaluate an endoscopic examination protocol for routine dental examination in horses. The oral cavities of 300 standing, sedated horses were examined under field and hospital conditions with a rigid endoscope using a standardised technique that included examination of the occlusal, lingual (palatal) and buccal surfaces of all cheek teeth rows. The most common cheek teeth abnormalities detected were sharp enamel edges (present in 96.3% of horses), focal overgrowths (64.3%), fissure fractures (54.3%), diastemata (24.3%) and infundibular hypoplasia/caries (...
Crispe EJ, Lester GD, Secombe CJ, Perera DI.Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) is commonly implicated as a cause of poor athletic performance but there is limited and conflicting evidence for this association. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if EIPH, based on endoscopic examination after racing, is associated with a variety of novel and established performance parameters. Methods: Prospective, observational cross-sectional study. Methods: Thoroughbred racehorses competing between 2012 and 2015 were examined on-course no earlier than 30 min after racing. Examinations were recorded and graded blindly by experi...
Traub-Dargatz JL, Bertone JJ, Gould DH, Wrigley RH, Weiser MG, Forney SD.Effects of a therapeutic dose of flunixin meglumine on gastric mucosa of horse foals were determined by endoscopy, double-contrast radiography, and gross and histologic examinations. Foals were administered 1.1 mg of flunixin meglumine/kg of body weight, PO/day for 30 days in an encapsulated form that was divided into 2 doses/day (group 1; n = 3) or by IM injection once a day (group 2; n = 7). Three control foals (group 3; n = 3) were administered capsules (n = 1) containing dextrose powder or IM injections (n = 2) of vehicle solution without flunixin meglumine. All 3 groups-1 foals given flun...
McGivney CL, Sweeney J, David F, O'Leary JM, Hill EW, Katz LM.Previous studies support good intra- and interobserver agreements for endoscopic evaluation of various upper respiratory tract (URT) diseases in horses. However, these studies mainly assessed resting endoscopic examination videos and/or focussed on a single URT abnormality. Objective: To estimate intra- and interobserver agreement for identification and grading of all URT abnormalities from resting and overground endoscopy (OGE) videos of Thoroughbreds. Methods: Blinded, fully crossed design. Methods: Resting and OGE URT videos for n = 43 Thoroughbreds were retrospectively chosen based on iden...
Franklin SH, Naylor JR, Lane JG.Videoendoscopy of the upper respiratory tract (URT) during high-speed treadmill exercise has proved to be invaluable in the assessment of URT dysfunction in racehorses. However, very little information exists regarding dynamic airway collapse in other sport horses used in nonracing equestrian disciplines. Objective: To evaluate the videoendoscopic findings at rest and during exercise in a mixed population of sport horses referred for investigation of poor athletic performance and/or abnormal respiratory noise. Methods: Videoendoscopy of the upper airway was performed at rest and during high-sp...
Kivett L, Taintor J, Wright J.Simultaneous administration of a nonselective COX inhibitor and a COX-2 specific NSAID has not been previously reported in horses. The goal of this study was to determine the safety of a 10-day dosage regimen of phenylbutazone and firocoxib, both at their standard dosages, in horses. Six horses were administered 2.2 mg/kg of phenylbutazone and 0.1 mg/kg of firocoxib by mouth, daily for 10 days. Horses were assessed daily for changes in behavior, appetite, fecal consistency, signs of abdominal pain, and oral mucous membrane ulceration. Horses were assessed prior to and on the last day of treatm...
Ohba T, Ebata S, Ando T, Ichikawa J, Clinton D, Haro H.Hematoma of the ligamentum flavum is a rare cause of neural compression, for which treatment has consisted of excising the hematoma via open surgical approaches, including total laminectomy or bilateral partial laminectomy. This article presents the first report of a microscope-assisted endoscopic decompression to resect a hematoma of the ligamentum flavum.A 52-year-old man presented with back and leg pain, as well as difficulty initiating micturation. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an epidural mass at L5/S1 that was continuous with the facet joint. Visualization was obtained via an e...
Mild-moderate (MEA), severe (SEA) equine asthma and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) are common respiratory disorders in horses. The present retrospective study aims to evaluate the role of ultrasonography and endoscopy in the diagnosis of these conditions. Three hundred and three horses were included and divided into SEA, MEA and MEA + EIPH groups, on the basis of history, clinical examination and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALf) cytology; scores were assigned to lung ultrasonography, pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (PLH), tracheal mucus (TM) and tracheal bifurcation edema (TB)...
Dixon PM, Parkin TD, Collins N, Hawkes C, Townsend N, Tremaine WH, Fisher G, Ealey R, Barakzai SZ.There is a lack of objective information on the value of ancillary diagnostic techniques used to investigate equine sinus disease, and also on which sinus compartments are commonly affected in this disorder. Objective: To record the ancillary diagnostic findings used to investigate equine sinus disease and to document which compartments are affected. Methods: The clinical case records of 200 consecutive cases of sinus disease, including subacute (2 months' duration) primary (n = 37); dental (n = 40); traumatic (n = 13); sinus cyst (n = 26); sinus neoplasia (n = 10); dental related oromaxillary...
Murray MJ.Ulceration of the gastric squamous epithelial mucosa was induced in 10 horses using a feeding protocol previously shown to expose the gastric mucosa to repeated periods of high acidity. The feeding protocol consisted of alternating feed deprivation with free access to hay. Over a period of seven days, each horse was provided hay for 84 hr and deprived of hay for 84 hr. Hay was never withheld for longer than 24 hr at a time. Gastroscopy was performed on each horse at the beginning of the protocol after 12 hr of feed deprivation, and after a total of 36 hr, 60 hr, and 84 hr of feed deprivation. ...
Orard M, Depecker M, Hue E, Pitel PH, Couroucé-Malblanc A, Richard EA.The aim of the study was to determine whether instillation of either 250 mL or 500 mL of saline for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) would influence cytological confirmation of inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Thirty client-owned Standardbred racehorses were sampled via endoscopy with 250 mL of saline in one lung and 500 mL in the contralateral lung. The procedure was repeated 72 h later, reversing the volume per lung. The proportions of BAL fluid (BALF) recovered were significantly higher and neutrophil percentages significantly lower with the larger volume. A poor agreement was found between m...
Van Erck E.Dynamic upper airway obstruction (UAO) is a cause of respiratory noise and sometimes poor performance in sport horses. Riding, head flexion and airway inflammation may impact upper respiratory tract stability during exercise. Objective: To evaluate upper airway mechanical behaviour in ridden sport horses using overground endoscopy and the effect of head flexion, rider intervention and underlying airway inflammation on the pharynx and larynx. Methods: Resting and exercising videoendoscopic recordings during ridden exercise were obtained in 129 sport horses referred mainly for respiratory noise,...
Furr MO, Murray MJ.Of 55 horses treated with histamine type 2 (H2) receptor antagonists for gastric ulcers, 32 were examined by gastroendoscopy before and after treatment. Distribution and severity of lesions in the squamous fundus (sf), margo plicatus (mp), glandular fundus (gf), lesser curvature (lc) and cardia (car) were recorded. Severity of the lesions was scored 0-4 (0 = no lesions, 4 = most severe). On initial examination, lesions were most frequently observed at the mp (28/32) and least frequently observed in the gf (5/32). There was endoscopic confirmation of improvement in lesion scores in each region,...
