Effect of a tongue-tie on upper airway mechanics during exercise following sternothyrohyoid myectomy in clinically normal horses.

The study investigated whether using a tongue-tie would affect how the upper airway functions in healthy horses when they are exercising, after they have undergone a sternothyrohyoid myectomy. The results showed that a tongue-tie has no effect on upper airway functions during such circumstances.

Objective and Methodology

• The research aimed to understand the impacts of a tongue-tie on the upper airway mechanics while horses are exercising on a treadmill following a surgical procedure known as sternothyrohyoid myectomy. The study involved six Standardbred horses as subjects.
• Upper airway mechanics were evaluated when horses were exercising on a treadmill at different speeds (5, 8, and 10 m/s), four weeks post sternothyrohyoid myectomy. The pressures during inspiratory (breathing in) and expiratory (breathing out) phases in the pharynx and trachea were measured using specific catheters.
• The horses wore a facemask, and the airflow through their airways was tracked using a device called a pneumotachograph. These horses underwent exercises on a treadmill at three different speeds, both with and without a tongue-tie, following a cross-over design study, meaning each horse was subjected to both states.

Measurements and Calculations

• Several respiratory variables were measured including the inspiratory and expiratory airflow, pharyngeal pressure, and tracheal pressure.
• From these measurements, the resistances during the inspiratory and expiratory phases were calculated to understand airway functionalities better.

Results and Conclusion

• The study findings showed that a tongue-tie did not affect any of the measured respiratory variables, implying that it has no impact on the upper airway mechanics in normal horses even after sternothyrohyoid myectomy during exercise.
• This study’s conclusion suggests that use of a tongue-tie doesn’t alter the way the upper airways function during exercise after a sternothyrohyoid myectomy in healthy horses.