Efficacy and safety of sound wave treatment of recurrent airway obstruction in horses.

The research article presents an examination of the effectiveness and safety of using a handheld acoustic device for treating recurrent airway obstruction in horses. Unfortunately, the study concluded that despite the device’s safety, it did not show any significant improvement in the horses’ clinical signs or lung function.

Objective & Method

The research was primarily aimed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of a handheld acoustic device proposed for nonmedical therapy for recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in horses. This tool propels sound waves from the horse’s nose down into its tracheobronchial tree with the intention of dislodging mucus and relaxing bronchospasm to help clear mucoid secretions.

• The study was designed as a prospective, cross-over clinical trial involving nine adult horses previously diagnosed with RAO.
• The horses were exposed to a dusty environment till they developed airway obstruction as defined by standard lung mechanics.
• They were randomly assigned to receive either acoustic therapy or a placebo treatment for a four-week duration in the same environment.
• The effects of treatments were measured using clinical scores, standard lung mechanics, and forced expiration.
• After a washout period, the opposite treatment was administered.

Results

Seven horses received the actual acoustic treatment while nine received the placebo. However, there were no significant changes, as per the p-values, in any of the factors measured for evaluating the effects, including:

• Clinical score
• Maximal change in transpulmonary pressure (ΔPLmax)
• Lung resistance (RL)
• Forced expiratory flow rate averaged over the last 75-95% of expiration (FEF75-95%)

Despite tests showing the device to be safe, minor adverse effects like head tossing, coughing, and chewing during treatment were observed.

Conclusion

The study concluded that this type of treatment with the device did not lead to any improvement in the clinical signs or lung function of horses suffering from RAO, kept in a dusty environment. Hence, as per the conclusion of this study, it is advised to stick to the standard and currently accepted treatments for RAO in horses, which include proper environmental management and medical therapy.