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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2015; 29(4); 1105-1111; doi: 10.1111/jvim.13572

Endoscopic Balloon Dilation of Esophageal Strictures in 9 Horses.

Abstract: Medical treatment of esophageal strictures in horses is limited and the use of balloon dilatation is described in few cases. Long-term follow up after balloon dilatation and the use of intralesional corticosteroids has not been evaluated. Objective: To describe the use of endoscopic guided, esophageal balloon dilatation in horses for cervical and thoracic esophageal strictures and administration of intralesional corticosteroids at the time of dilatation. Methods: Nine horses from the hospital population with benign esophageal strictures. Methods: Retrospective study: Medical records were reviewed from horses presented to the William R. Pritchard, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis from 2002 to 2013. Records were searched using the key words: equine, horse, balloon dilatation, bougienage, and esophageal stricture. Results: Nine horses with esophageal strictures were treated with esophageal balloon dilatation. Five horses survived (survival at writing ranged from 2 to 11 years after discharge) and all nonsurvivors were <1 year of age and presented with concurrent problems or developed complications including megaesophagus, unresolved esophageal obstruction requiring esophagostomy, or severe aspiration pneumonia. Four horses were treated with intralesional corticosteroids with no adverse effects noted in the survivors (n = 3). Four horses available for long-term follow up were alive at 2, 5, 6, and 11 years after presentation and 3 of these horses were being fed a hay-based diet. Conclusions: Resolution of esophageal strictures in the horse can be performed successfully, safely, and under standing sedation using balloon dilatation. Intralesional corticosteroids might reduce the incidence of recurrent strictures.
Publication Date: 2015-06-25 PubMed ID: 26118925PubMed Central: PMC4895364DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13572Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research article discusses a new medical treatment for esophageal strictures in horses using endoscopic balloon dilation and intralesional corticosteroids. This technique was found to be successful, safe, and potentially capable of reducing the recurrence of strictures.

Objective and Methods of the Study

  • The objective of this research was to document the efficacy of a new method for treating esophageal strictures (narrowing of the esophagus) in horses. This was done using endoscopic guided, esophageal balloon dilatation and administration of intralesional corticosteroids at the time of dilatation.
  • The researchers conducted a retrospective study with data obtained from the medical records of nine horses presented to the William R. Pritchard, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis from 2002 to 2013. The key words used to search these records were equine, horse, balloon dilatation, bougienage, and esophageal stricture.

Results of the Study

  • Out of the nine treated horses, five survived and were alive at the time of writing, their survival ranging from two to eleven years after discharge from the hospital.
  • All the horses that did not survive were less than one year old and presented with other issues or developed complications like megaesophagus, unresolved esophageal obstructions requiring esophagostomy, or severe aspiration pneumonia.
  • Four of the horses were treated with intralesional corticosteroids along with balloon dilatation. This procedure did not cause any adverse effects in the surviving horses.
  • Four horses that were available for long-term follow up were still alive after 2, 5, 6, and 11 years after treatment. Additionally, three of these horses were able to consume a hay-based diet.

Conclusions of the Study

  • The results of the study suggest that the resolution of esophageal strictures in horses can be successfully and safely achieved using balloon dilatation, and it can be performed under standing sedation.
  • The study also proposes that the use of intralesional corticosteroids at the time of balloon dilatation might be beneficial in reducing the incidence of recurrent strictures, offering a promising development in the treatment of this condition in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Prutton JS, Marks SL, Aleman M. (2015). Endoscopic Balloon Dilation of Esophageal Strictures in 9 Horses. J Vet Intern Med, 29(4), 1105-1111. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.13572

Publication

ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 4
Pages: 1105-1111

Researcher Affiliations

Prutton, J S W
  • The William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Marks, S L
  • Department of Medicine and Epid-emiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Aleman, M
  • Department of Medicine and Epid-emiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Dilatation / methods
  • Dilatation / veterinary
  • Esophageal Stenosis / diagnosis
  • Esophageal Stenosis / therapy
  • Esophageal Stenosis / veterinary
  • Esophagoscopy / methods
  • Esophagoscopy / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Trovatelli M, Sala G, Romussi S, Boccardo A. An oesophageal benign stricture: Endoscopy treatment limitation and surgical management in a heifer. Vet Med (Praha) 2021 Jun;66(6):272-277.
    doi: 10.17221/93/2020-VETMEDpubmed: 40201146google scholar: lookup
  2. Means KL, Zukeran-Kerr K, Le K, Yap SW, Brown K, Clarke L. Segmental Megaesophagus Secondary to Extraluminal Esophageal Stenosis Caused by Transitional Seventh Cervical Vertebra and Supernumerary Ribs in a Goat. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2025 Jan;66(1):e70009.
    doi: 10.1111/vru.70009pubmed: 39798084google scholar: lookup
  3. Nijdam P, Elmas C, Fugazzola MC. Treatment of an Esophageal Stricture in a 1-Month-Old Miniature Shetland Colt. Case Rep Vet Med 2017;2017:3069419.
    doi: 10.1155/2017/3069419pubmed: 29955427google scholar: lookup
  4. Prutton JS, Bonadio C, Vaughan B, Nieto JE, Harvey AM, Estell KE. Sialoendoscopy as a treatment for an obstructed mandibular salivary duct in a horse. Can Vet J 2016 Aug;57(8):869-72.
    pubmed: 27493288