Carotid and cerebral angiography in the horse.

The aim of this research is to examine the viability and benefits of carrying out carotid and cerebral angiography in equine patients. The study shows that this procedure can easily be conducted with standard medical equipment usually found in horse hospitals and helps significantly in the diagnosis of various equine illnesses, particularly guttural pouch mycosis.

Carotid and Cerebral Angiography

• The study starts by describing the simplicity of carrying out a carotid and cerebral angiography in horses. This technique, initially, involves an incision made at the site of the carotid artery, followed by the catheterization of the artery. If needed, selective catheterization of any of its three divisions can also be performed.
• It is highlighted that this procedure can be carried out using standard medical equipment that is commonly available in equine medical facilities.
• During their nine years of research, the authors employed angiography regularly for diagnosis and fortunately, they did not experience any serious complications or adverse reactions throughout the study.

Valuable Diagnostic Tool

• An essential point to note in this research is the significant value of carotid angiography in investigating horses with guttural pouch mycosis. Through the technique, the presence of aneurysms was detected in various cases along with significant vascular abnormalities in four of them.
• This information provided has been instrumental for surgical intervention involving ligating the appropriate artery in horses affected with guttural pouch mycosis.

Other Indications

• Beyond guttural pouch mycosis, carotid angiography has been useful in examining equine cases with conditions such as ethmoidal hematoma, idiopathic Horner’s syndrome, head neoplasia, and venous and arterial aneurysms unrelated to the guttural pouch.
• The application of cerebral angiography in horses is comparatively infrequent, but it has been beneficial in differentiating various abnormalities related to the central nervous system of the animal.