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.
Hellings IR, Larsen S.Gastric ulceration is highly prevalent in horses, and there is a large commercial market for feed-additives and non-licenced products that claim effect for prevention and treatment of gastric ulceration. ImproWin® has been used as a feed additive in horses with anecdotal evidence that it may have some positive effects on gastric ulceration.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ImproWin® treatment on spontaneously occurring gastric ulcers of the squamous mucosa in Standardbred and Coldblooded trotting racehorses. The study was performed as a randomised, double-blinded, single...
Abuja GA, García-López JM, Manso-Díaz G, Spoormakers TJ, Taeymans O.Although an uncommon condition, cranial nuchal bursitis can affect the performance of the equine athlete. The anatomy is not well described and there are no reports of diagnostic imaging for endoscopic approaches. Objective: To describe the anatomy, ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance features of and endoscopic approach to the cranial nuchal bursa in horses. Methods: Experimental cadaver study. Methods: Four cranial nuchal bursae were dissected, 4 specimens were frozen to prepare anatomical sections and 2 were injected with latex to document surface landmarks and topographical anatomy and ...
Barakzai SZ, Dixon PM, Hawkes CS, Cox A, Barnett TP.To describe a complication observed endoscopically in horses after prosthetic laryngoplasty (LP). Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n = 5) that had previous LP. Methods: Four horses had endoscopic examination as part of a larger prospective study and had saliva emanating from their upper esophageal opening. One other horse was referred with clinical signs of severe upper esophageal obstruction 2 months after LP. Results: Four horses were observed to have saliva emanating from their upper esophageal opening during endoscopic examination 21-58 months after LP. Esophageal reflux was note...
Milner PI, Bardell DA, Warner L, Packer MJ, Senior JM, Singer ER, Archer DC.To determine risk factors involved in survival to hospital discharge of cases of synovial sepsis. Objective: Investigate pre-, intra- and post operative factors involved in short-term survival of horses undergoing endoscopic treatment for synovial sepsis. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Clinical data were obtained for horses (>6 months old) undergoing endoscopic surgery as part of management for synovial sepsis over a 7-year period in a single hospital population. Descriptive data were generated for pre-, intra- and post operative variables. Multivariable logistic regression analy...
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...
Zebisch A, May A, Reese S, Gehlen H.Hyperflexion, that is the strong deflection of the horse's head, poll and neck, is a prevalent training technique in equitation. Hyperflexion has come under criticism in recent years for being suspected of affecting the horses' well-being contrary to animal welfare. The goal of the present study is a comparison between the impacts of different poll-neck positions on findings in the upper respiratory tract of ridden horses. For this purpose, video recordings of the larynges of 14 horses were taken using an overground endoscope. The videos were recorded at rest and during three different riding ...
Hawkins JF, Couetil L, Miller MA.The objective was to evaluate CO2 laser debridement of the cricoarytenoid joint (CAJ) combined with prosthetic laryngoplasty to prevent post-operative loss of arytenoid abduction in seven horses. Horses were assigned to either laser debridement of the left CAJ and laryngoplasty (laser treated, n=5) or control laryngoplasty (sham, n=2), and were evaluated with endoscopic examinations and measurement of right to left angle quotients (RLQ) to assess maintenance of arytenoid abduction. The animals were euthanased at intervals after surgery and larynges were harvested for post-mortem testing, inclu...
Caron JP.To report a technique for endoscopic component separation in horses and quantify the amount of body wall advancement obtained. Methods: Descriptive study. Methods: Fresh cadaveric horses (n = 14). Methods: After a preliminary anatomic study, 7 horses had unilateral endoscopic component separation involving transection of the external abdominal oblique fascia lateral to the rectus abdominis muscle. A laparoscope, placed using a balloon dissector, was used to create an intermuscular working space between the external abdominal oblique fascia and internal abdominal oblique muscle. A single instru...
Pasquel SG, Agnew D, Nelson N, Kruger JM, Sonea I, Schott HC.Although the equine renal pelvis and terminal recesses have been described post mortem, little information exists about the endoscopic appearance of these structures in the living horse for guiding ureteropyeloscopy. Objective: To further document the anatomy of the upper urinary collecting system, specifically the renal pelvis and terminal recesses, of the horse. Methods: Descriptive study of cadaver material. Methods: Kidneys were harvested from 10 horses. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed after distension of the renal pelvis with an elastomer casting material, followed by visual insp...
Laus F, Rossi G, Paggi E, Bordicchia M, Fratini M, Tesei B.Tumors involving the oral cavity of the horse are uncommon. No cases of equine adenocarcinoma on the dorsum of the tongue have been reported in the literature. We report a case of adenocarcinoma located on the dorsum of the posterior one-third of the tongue in a 29-year-old gelding with severe dysphagia. Endoscopy revealed an epiglottis involvement, and histology was consistent with adenocarcinoma arising from minor salivary glands, which was associated with a severe fungal colonization of affected tissues. The goals of this report are to present an uncommon case of dorsum of the tongue-associ...
de Parades V, Bouchard D, Janier M, Berger A.Pilonidal disease is a frequent suppurative condition that occurs twice as often in men as in women, usually between the ages of 15 and 30. Pilonidal disease is located beneath the skin of the sacro-coccygeal region. It presents acutely as an abscess under tension while the chronic form gives rise to intermittent discharge from pilonidal sinus(es). Diagnosis is clinical and usually straightforward. In the large majority of cases, treatment is surgical but there is no consensus as to the 'ideal' technique. Acute abscess must be evacuated and an off-midline incision seems preferable. Excision is...
Eichentopf A, Snyder A, Recknagel S, Uhlig A, Waltl V, Schusser GF.A 20-year-old pony mare was presented to the equine hospital with a ten-day history of dysphagia, regurgitation and coughing. An obstruction of the oesophagus was excluded via endoscopy, but the proximal oesophagus appeared to be distended and circular contractions were missing. A guttural pouch endoscopy revealed a single, black-mottled plaque on the pharyngeal ramus of the vagus nerve in the left guttural pouch, causing a local swelling of this nerve. The pharyngeal ramus seemed to be atrophic distal to the lesion. A biopsy was taken from the lesion and histopathological findings proved the ...
Inoue Y.Diagnostic techniques for oviductal obstruction in the mare are limited and development of a more reliable and direct method to assess oviductal patency is needed. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of hysteroscopic selective hydrotubation of the equine oviduct via videoendoscopy in standing mares. Methods: Using a catheter inserted under endoscopic guidance into the uterotubal junctions of 10 mares, 5 ml of indigo carmine solution (4 mg/ml) was flushed into the oviduct. After introduction of the dye, peritoneal fluid was obtained via abdominocentesis. A colpotomy was also performed to all...
Galloway SS, Easley J.This article discusses the significant features and use of digital cameras, intraoral cameras, and oral endoscopes in equine dental practice. Although system features believed to be important have been listed, specific system recommendations have been omitted, since each veterinarian must individually determine the best system to meet practice clinical needs and budget. Veterinarians are encouraged to thoroughly research not only the camera/endoscope purchase but also the capabilities of the entire system, the compatibility of the system with different computer software programs, the reputatio...
Niedźwiedź A, Kubiak K, Nicpoń J.This study was performed to determine the prevalence of ulcers in the gastric squamous and glandular mucosa in Polish pleasure horses. Methods: Medical records from gastroscopic examinations of 108 pleasure horses of different breeds were reviewed. The study population consisted of two groups; group I (n = 48) with horses that expressed mild clinical signs of gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) including poor appetite, slight weight loss or poor body condition, and group II (n = 60) with horses that had no signs of gastrointestinal problems. The age range was 4-10 years, including 5 males, 34 castra...
Norman TE, Chaffin MK, Bissett WT, Thompson JA.To determine risk factors associated with the development of nasopharyngeal cicatrix syndrome (NCS) in horses. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 242 horses referred for endoscopic evaluation of the upper portion of the respiratory tract (121 horses with NCS and 121 control horses). Methods: Medical records of horses that had an endoscopic evaluation of the upper airway performed between January 2003 and December 2008 were reviewed. Signalment, housing management, and season of evaluation were recorded and reviewed for each horse. The associations between clinical signs and en...
Kelly PG, Reardon RJ, Johnston MS, Pollock PJ.Endoscopic examination of Thoroughbred (TB) yearlings is performed routinely to determine the suitability of horses for racing and to ensure that the conditions of sale are satisfied. However, previous research has demonstrated that resting endoscopic examination can be inaccurate in the diagnosis of functional pathology of the upper portion of the respiratory tract (URT). Objective: To investigate the feasibility of performing dynamic overground endoscopy in a group of TB yearlings and to compare the results of resting and dynamic endoscopic examination of the URT. Methods: Prospective cohort...
Compostella F, Tremaine WH, Franklin SH.To investigate causes of respiratory noises in horses following prosthetic laryngoplasty (with or without a ventriculocordectomy) and to examine potential associations between degree of arytenoid abduction and the presence of other upper respiratory tract (URT) abnormalities, including right-sided collapse. Methods: Clinical records and dynamic videoendoscopic recordings were examined from horses presented between 1995 and 2010 for investigation of respiratory noise during exercise, following a prosthetic laryngoplasty (+/- a ventriculocordectomy). Relationships between the degree of left aryt...
Barnett TP, O'Leary JM, Parkin TD, Dixon PM, Barakzai SZ.To investigate upper respiratory tract function in horses, previously undergoing laryngoplasty (LP), using exercising video-endoscopy. Objective: To evaluate arytenoid abduction and stability, diagnose any concurrent upper airway problems, and correlate these with the owners' perception of success. Methods: Horses undergoing LP during a 6-year period at one hospital were initially included. Those available for re-examination were exercised for a duration and intensity considered maximal for their discipline using an over-ground endoscope. Resting and exercising laryngeal and pharyngeal videos ...
Allen K, Franklin S.Two forms of dynamic upper respiratory tract obstruction affecting racehorses that involve the soft palate have been described: palatal instability (PI) and dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). Observation of DDSP is straightforward in that it is an all or nothing event, whereas observation of PI is subjective and interpretation may vary between clinicians. Objective: The aim of this study was to attempt to characterise PI and to investigate endoscopic features that precede DDSP. Methods: A retrospective study on the endoscopic observations of Thoroughbred racehorses referred for hig...
Cribb NC, Kenney DG, Reid-Burke R.An 82-cm fragment of nasogastric tube was removed from the stomach of an adult horse under standing sedation by use of an endoscope and electrocautery snare. This is the first report of successful non-surgical removal of a nasogastric tube fragment from the stomach of a horse. Un fragment de 82 cm d’un tube naso-gastrique a été enlevé de l’estomac d’un cheval adulte sous sédation se tenant debout en utilisant un endoscope et une anse de galvanocautérisation. Il s’agit du premier rapport de l’enlèvement non chirurgical d’un fragment de tube naso-gastrique de l’estomac d’u...
Morgan RA, Malalana F, McGowan CM.A 14-year-old Cleveland Bay cross gelding was presented with severe urinary incontinence that had been present for 1 year, and chronic polydipsia and polyuria over 4 years. Water intake had been recorded as 240 L over a 24-hour period. Results: The horse had marked urinary incontinence and polyuria and polydipsia. The urine was markedly hyposthenuric, but no abnormalities on urinalysis were detected. There were no other abnormal clinical or neurological signs. Haematological and serum biochemical examinations showed no abnormalities and ultrasonographic and endoscopic examination of the urinar...
Burgess HJ, Lockerbie BP, Czerwinski S, Scott M.A 12-year-old female Argentinean Warmblood mare was evaluated because of respiratory noise. The horse resided in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, but had been imported from Argentina 28 months prior to presentation. Endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract revealed a single polypoid mass on the left arytenoid. The mass was surgically excised and was diagnosed histologically as rhinosporidiosis. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to confirm the etiological agent. Four weeks postoperatively, endoscopy was repeated, revealing recurrence of the original lesion with multiple additional...
Jean D, Picandet V, Céleste C, Macieira S, Cesarini C, Morisset S, Rossier Y, Marcoux M.This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and side effects of palatal sclerotherapy in standardbred racehorses suspected to have intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (IDDSP). Fifty-one horses were treated with multiple endoscopically guided injections of 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate in the soft palate. Two groups were identified: those that had respiratory noises during exercise (n = 27) and those that did not (n = 24). Treatment was well-tolerated. Furthermore, horses significantly reduced their racing times for the last 400 m compared with their times before treatment an...
Endo Y, Tsuchiya T, Sato F, Murase H, Omura T, Korosue K, Nambo Y, Ishimaru M, Wakui Y.Prevalence of equine gastric ulcer syndrome in 85 young Thoroughbreds was investigated. The presence of gastric ulcers was confirmed in 27.1% (23/85) of the horses by endoscopic examination. Sixty-two horses without gastric ulcers were allocated randomly to either the treated group (31 horses) or sham-dosed control group (31 horses) in order to investigate the efficacy of omeprazole oral paste in the prevention of gastric ulcers. At the second endoscopic examination conducted after 28 days of administration, only 1 horse in the treated group developed gastric ulcers, while 12 horses developed ...
Archer RM, Knight CG, Bishop WJ.Six horses from several geographical locations in New Zealand presented with signs of guttural pouch mycosis. All horses had experienced epistaxis within 14 days of presentation. Results: In five horses with epistaxis, a diagnosis of guttural pouch mycosis was made on endoscopic observation of fungal plaques in the affected guttural pouches. One of these cases died before surgery was attempted. The remaining four cases underwent ligation and balloon catheter occlusion of the internal carotid artery of the affected pouch. Three of these horses survived and were reported to be healthy 1 year aft...
Röcken M, Fürst A, Kummer M, Mosel G, Tschanz T, Lischer CJ.To report use of transendoscopic electrohydraulic shockwave lithotripsy for fragmentation of urinary calculi in horses. Methods: Case series. Methods: Male horses (n = 21). Methods: Fragmentation of cystic calculi (median, 6 cm diameter; range, 4-11 cm diameter) was achieved by transurethral endoscopy in standing sedated horses using an electrohydraulic shockwave fiber introduced through the biopsy channel of an endoscope. The fiber was advanced until it contacted the calculus. Repeated activation of the fiber was used to disrupt the calculus into fragments <1 cm diameter. Visibility within...
Trumble TN, Hendrickson DA.Standing laparoscopy in the horse was used initially as a diagnostic tool to assist in the diagnosis of a cryptorchid testicle. Now, this technique is also used for treatment of cryptorchid testicles. The focus of this article is the standing laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy, the most common laparoscopic procedure performed on the male equine urogenital tract. Advantages, disadvantages, instrumentation, and general procedure are discussed.
Barakzai SZ, Es C, Milne EM, Dixon P.To report ventroaxial luxation of the apex of the left or right corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage under the contralateral corniculate process during resting endoscopic examination, and morphologic features of the larynx of 1 affected horse. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Horses (n=8). Methods: Horses had endoscopic examination as part of a survey of Clydesdale horses (n=7), or investigation of poor performance in Thoroughbred horses (1). One Clydesdale was euthanatized and the larynx examined; 4 cadaver larynges from normal horses were also examined. Results: Ventroaxial l...
Padoan E, Ferraresso S, Pegolo S, Barnini C, Castagnaro M, Bargelloni L.Mild equine asthma (MEA) and severe equine asthma (SEA) are two of the most frequent equine airway inflammatory diseases, but knowledge about their pathogenesis is limited. The goal of this study was to investigate gene expression differences in the respiratory tract of MEA- and SEA-affected horses and their relationship with clinical signs. Methods: Clinical examination and endoscopy were performed in 8 SEA- and 10 MEA-affected horses and 7 healthy controls. Cytological and microbiological analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were performed. Gene expression profiling of BAL fluid wa...
Lafortuna CL, Albertini M, Ferrucci F, Zucca E, Braghieri M, Clement MG, Saibene F.A video-laryngoscopic method, implemented with an algorithm for the correction of the deformation inherent in the endoscope optical system, has been used to measure the dorsoventral diameter (Drg) and the cross-sectional area (CSArg) of the rima glottidis in five healthy workhorses during conscious breathing at rest. Simultaneous recording of the respiratory airflow was also obtained in two horses. Drg measured 82.7 +/- 4.5 mm (mean +/- S.D.) independently of the respiratory phase, and did not differ from the measurement in post-mortem anatomical specimens of the same horses. CSArg ranged from...
Wilson DG.Possibly no other development has revolutionized general surgery more dramatically than laparoscopic surgery in human patients. The development of instrumentation suitable for use in horses has allowed the veterinary surgeon to begin to introduce minimally invasive procedures. Clearly, in people, one of the greatest benefits is reduced patient morbidity and earlier return to function. The author's experience with laparoscopic procedures in the horse would tend to reinforce those observations. The most significant obstacle to widespread acceptance of minimally invasive surgery in the horse is p...
King DS, Tulleners E, Martin BB, Parente EJ, Boston R.To describe the clinical findings in 52 racehorses with axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (ADAF) and to report outcome in 33 of these horses after either rest or transendoscopic laser excision of aryepiglottic fold tissue. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Racehorses admitted for high-speed treadmill (HST) evaluation of poor performance. Methods: Medical records and videotapes of resting and exercising videoendoscopic examinations were reviewed. Racing performance records and owner or trainer interviews, at least 1 year after HST examination, were used to compare results after ei...
Elliott S, Cheetham J.Resting endoscopy has commonly been used as a method to predict laryngeal function at exercise. Objective: To perform a meta-analysis to determine the sensitivity and specificity of resting laryngeal endoscopy to predict clinical recurrent laryngeal neuropathy at exercise. Methods: Meta-analysis. Methods: Manuscripts were included if data were available for both resting and exercising airway function on all or a subset of horses. Normal resting endoscopy was defined as laryngeal grades 1 or 2 on a 4-/7-point scale or 1, 2 or 3 on a 5-point scale and normal dynamic endoscopy as a dynamic laryng...
Stewart AJ, Salazar T, Waldridge BM, Schumacher J, Welles EG, Hanson RR, Sartin EA, Lenz SD, Holland M, Beard DM.A 7-year-old 509-kg (1,120-lb) Tennessee Walking Horse mare was evaluated because of bilateral mucosanguinous nasal discharge, intermittent right-sided epistaxis, and worsening dyspnea of 9 months' duration. Results: Multiple masses in the nasopharynx were detected via endoscopic and radiographic examinations. Cytologic and histologic examinations of biopsy specimens of 1 mass revealed round yeasts with thick nonstaining capsules and occasional narrow-based budding that resembled cryptococcal organisms. Results: Oral administration of fluconazole and organic ethylenediamine dihydriodide and in...
Bell C, Tatarniuk D, Carmalt J.To describe and evaluate an endoscope-guided balloon sinuplasty technique for dilation of the equine nasomaxillary opening (NMO). Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Equine cadaver heads (n=5); Quarter Horses (n=4). Methods: A custom rigid balloon introducer was passed into position within the NMO at the caudal recess of the middle meatus. Under endoscopic guidance, a balloon catheter was passed via the introducer into the NMO and inflated to 6 atmospheres, for 30 seconds 3 times, to dilate the NMO. Drainage rates after sinuplasty were evaluated for the caudal maxillary sinus in 5 cadaver he...
Preston SA, Riggs CM, Singleton MD, Troedsson MH.Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) is reported as a performance limiting condition in racehorses, yet few longitudinal studies characterising EIPH have been reported. Objective: To characterise EIPH during training and racing in the absence of prophylactic medication with furosemide among horses imported to Hong Kong during 2007-2012. Methods: Retrospective descriptive study of clinical endoscopy, EIPH status, and racing records. Methods: Thoroughbred geldings (n = 822) imported from New Zealand between 2007 and 2012 were retrospectively assigned to 4 groups: diagnosed with EIPH via...
Nixon AJ, Sams AE, Ducharme NG.An endoscopically assisted technique for internally dividing the palmar or plantar annular ligament was developed in six cadaver limb specimens and two anesthetized horses. Under arthroscopic view, a slotted cannula was inserted into the digital sheath through a stab wound proximal to the annular ligament and advanced through the fetlock canal superficial to the flexor tendons with the slot oriented toward the fibers of the annular ligament. Division of the annular ligament by 90-degree tipped open and guarded blades was observed and verified by direct arthroscopic view. At necropsy, complete ...
Stick JA, Krehbiel JD, Kunze DJ, Wortman JA.Esophageal healing was evaluated in 10 ponies after sutured and nonsutured cervical esophagotomy techniques. Mucosal healing occurred significantly (P less than 0.005) faster after sutured esophagotomies (x = 7.5 days after surgery) than after nonsutured esophagotomies (x = 25.6 days after surgery), based on endoscopic and clinical evaluations. Although endoscopy was an accurate assessment of the return of normal passage of a food bolus through the esophagus, 4 of 10 ponies had radiographic evidence of a sinus tract after the mucosa was considered healed, based on endoscopic and clinical exami...
Orsini JA, Sepesy L, Donawick WJ, McDevitt D.A mare was examined for episodic choking and an abscess in the perilaryngeal region. One month before referral, the mass progressively enlarged, causing esophageal choking. An extraluminal compression of the esophagus 90 cm from the external nares was found on endoscopy and contrast radiography. Serosanguinous fluid aspirated from the mass contained keratinized squamous cells and neutrophils, compatible with an esophageal cyst. Surgical exploration was performed, with incomplete surgical excision. The remaining portion of the cyst was marsupialized and treated locally with a 2% inorganic iodin...
Ramzan PH, Dallas RS, Palmer L.To evaluate a technique for oral extraction of fractured cheek teeth (CT) under oral endoscopic guidance. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n = 30) with fractured CT. Methods: Medical records (April 2007-August 2010) of horses that had standing oral extraction of fractured CT under endoscopic guidance were reviewed. Results: Thirty horses (median age, 11.5 years; range, 5-23 years) had 31 fractured CT (21 maxillary, 10 mandibular) removed. Midline sagittal fractures of maxillary teeth (n = 13; 42%) were the most common type, followed by buccal or palatal (10; 32%), and transverse or multi...
Kozłowska N, Wierzbicka M, Pawliński B, Domino M.According to the "unified or united airway disease" theory, diseases in the upper and lower airways frequently co-occur because they represent a single morphological and functional unit. Palatal disorders (PDs) and severe equine asthma (SEA) are frequent diseases that, respectively, affect upper and lower equine airways; however, clinical studies focusing on the co-occurrence of PDs and SEA are limited. The present study investigated the prevalence of PDs in horses affected by SEA, and whether prevalence decreased after SEA treatment. Forty-six privately owned horses affected by SEA in exacerb...
Parente EJ.Many abnormalities of the upper airway that can inhibit performance are determined on a critical resting endoscopic evaluation. Some dynamic abnormalities can only be seen during an exercising endoscopic evaluation, which should be performed whenever the history of abnormal noise or performance limitations is not completely consistent with the resting endoscopic findings. Head and neck position may play a critical role in the evaluation process and the exact position during performance should be reproduced during the clinical examination to definitively define the abnormality. Treatments and p...
Couëtil LL, Gallatin LL, Blevins W, Khadra I.A 7-month-old miniature horse was referred for respiratory distress. Tracheal collapse at the level of the thoracic inlet was diagnosed. An intraluminal nitinol stent was placed with endoscopic guidance. Respiratory function was restored immediately after stent placement. The main complication observed during a 14-month follow-up period was growth of granulation tissue through the stent, which was controlled satisfactorily by electrocautery performed during endoscopy with the horse standing. Treatment of tracheal collapse with an intraluminal stent is an effective, practical, and minimally inv...
Heinze H.A method of endoscopic examination of the internal genital (pelvic) organs of the mare is described. Special emphasis is placed on the induction of artificial pneumoperitoneum and the installation of an endoscopic peritoneal fistula device for prolonged observation. The potential of pelviscopy in the mare as a diagnostic aid, a new device for research in equine reproduction and as an auxillary aid to teaching is discussed.
Morrison ML, Groover E, Schumacher J, Newton J, Pereira MM.Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms in horses, but lingual SCC has seldom been reported. On separate occasions, a 12-year-old American Quarter Horse mare and an 18-year-old American Saddlebred stallion were presented to the Auburn University Large Animal Teaching Hospital for evaluation of weight loss, dysphagia, and ptyalism. Evaluation of each horse included physical examination, skull radiographs, oral examination, complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile, endoscopic evaluation of the mouth, and biopsy of tissue from a lesion found on the t...
Cehak A, von Borstel M, Gehlen H, Feige K, Ohnesorge B.Twelve horses with a history of a unilateral malodorous nasal discharge were examined clinically, endoscopically and radiographically. The head of one of the horses was examined by computed tomography. Tissue samples were taken for microbiology from four of the horses and for histology from three. The conchal necrosis was unilateral in 11 of the horses and bilateral in the other, and no particular concha was affected more than the others. The affected tissue was removed transendoscopically with a polypectomy snare while the horses were sedated and standing. Mild disinfectants were used locally...
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...
Barnett TP, O'Leary JM, Parkin TD, Dixon PM, Barakzai SZ.To investigate upper respiratory tract function in horses, previously undergoing laryngoplasty (LP), using exercising video-endoscopy. Objective: To evaluate arytenoid abduction and stability, diagnose any concurrent upper airway problems, and correlate these with the owners' perception of success. Methods: Horses undergoing LP during a 6-year period at one hospital were initially included. Those available for re-examination were exercised for a duration and intensity considered maximal for their discipline using an over-ground endoscope. Resting and exercising laryngeal and pharyngeal videos ...
Holcombe SJ, Cornelisse CJ, Berney C, Robinson NE.To determine whether the hyoepiglotticus muscle has respiratory-related electromyographic activity and whether electrical stimulation of this muscle changes the position and conformation of the epiglottis, thereby altering dimensions of the aditus laryngis. Methods: 6 Standardbred horses. Methods: Horses were anesthetized, and a bipolar fine-wire electrode was placed in the hyoepiglotticus muscle of each horse. Endoscopic images of the nasopharynx and larynx were recorded during electrical stimulation of the hyoepiglotticus muscle in standing, unsedated horses. Dorsoventral length and area of ...
Hassel DM, Schott HC, Tucker RL, Hines MT.Endoscopic examination of the auditory tube diverticula was a diagnostic aid in the evaluation of 4 horses with otitis media/interna and associated osseous changes of the stylohyoid and petrous temporal. One of the horses was examined because of persistent head shaking; the other 3 were examined because of an acute onset of facial and vestibulocochlear nerve dysfunction. Proliferative lesions involving the petrous temporal bone and proximal portion of the stylohyoid bone were identified endoscopically in all 4 horses. Endoscopy is a noninvasive procedure that provides an alternative to skull r...
Franklin H, Burnt JF, Allen KJ.Dynamic collapse of the upper respiratory tract (URT) is a common cause of poor performance in horses. These conditions occur predominantly during strenuous exercise when the URT is unable to maintain dilation in the face of high inspiratory pressures. In most cases, these disorders cannot be accurately diagnosed during a resting endoscopic examination. To date, a definitive diagnosis of dynamic URT obstructions has been possible only by performing an endoscopic examination during high-speed treadmill exercise. However, recent technological advances now enable URT endoscopy to be performed whi...
Dart AJ, Snyder JR, Pascoe JR, Meagher DM, Wilson WD.To quantify some components of prepurchase evaluations in horses, records from 134 evaluations performed during a 2-year period were reviewed and the outcome was determined via telephone follow-up interview. Sixty-two percent of the prepurchase evaluations had been performed at the clinic and 38% had been performed in the field by the ambulatory service. All evaluations included physical and lameness examinations, whereas radiography (49%), endoscopy (15%), nerve blocking (5%), transrectal palpation (3%), hematologic analysis (2%), electrocardiography (2%), drug testing for analgesic agents (2...
Pezzanite L, Easley J.Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM) represents the most significant disease of the spinal cord in horses for which surgical treatment is described. Current surgical methods used include ventral interbody fusion with kerf cut cylinders and dorsal laminectomy. Polyaxial pedicle screw and rod constructs and ventral locking compression plating have been introduced in the treatment of equine CVCM and present promising alternative approaches to achieve ventral interbody fusion. Advancements in diagnostic imaging and endoscopy of the cervical vertebral canal may improve reliable preopera...
Savage CJ.Defining respiratory disease is not always easy in the horse because auscultation with accurate interpretation of lung sounds can be difficult. However, performing a thorough physical examination, including rebreathing auscultation and percussion of the thorax and sinuses, is very useful in elucidating the problem. Endoscopic examination of the upper respiratory system is also critical for definitively diagnosing certain conditions.
