Coil embolization of a palatine artery pseudoaneurysm in a gelding.

This research article details a successful procedure done on a 24-year-old Morgan gelding horse to stop bleeding from the right palatine artery pseudoaneurysm, which was extending into the caudal maxillary sinus of the horse, through the use of a coil embolization technique.

Objective and Methodology

• The objective of the research exercise was to provide evidence for the successful execution of a procedure called the ‘transarterial coil embolization’ on a horse’s palatine artery pseudoaneurysm, which had stretched into the caudal maxillary sinus.
• To achieve this, the first step involved performing a clinical checkup on the affected Morgan gelding which was experiencing right-sided epistaxis (nosebleed).
• To identify the source of bleeding, the right maxillary sinus of the horse was investigated using a series of imaging tests, including radiography, computed tomography, sinoscopy, and angiography.
• Following the identification of the source of bleeding, the surgical procedure of transarterial coil embolization was performed on the right palatine artery pseudoaneurysm.

Results and Conclusion

• Post-operation, the horse showed signs of mild complications such as nasal discharge and occasional coughing. However, no epistaxis was observed after the embolization, indicating the procedure was successful in halting the bleeding.
• There was also some swelling noticed around the surgical incision in the mid-cervical common carotid artery, but these were moderate and not cause for concern.
• The horse was discharged four days after the operation and showed no signs of bleeding for two months post-operatively. Unfortunately, the horse developed acute colic secondary to a strangulating lipoma at the end of two months and had to be euthanized after exploratory celiotomy.
• The successful placement of the embolization coils in the right palatine artery was confirmed by a post-mortem CT scan and forensic examination.
• From these findings, the researchers concluded that severe epistaxis in horses could be caused by a ruptured major palatine artery pseudoaneurysm, but that occlusion of this vessel can be successfully stopped by a transarterial coil embolization procedure.