Equine epiglottitis: Diagnosis, treatment and outcome.

This research article discusses the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of epiglottitis in racehorses. The researchers found that despite being a challenging condition to accurately diagnose, successful treatment can provide a positive prognosis for a return to racing.

Research Objectives

• The primary objective of this study was to provide a detailed analysis of the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses diagnosed with epiglottitis at a single center.
• The secondary objective was to assess the effectiveness of inhaled and topical anti-inflammatory treatments for epiglottitis in horses.

Research Methodology

• The researchers employed a retrospective case series method, reviewing medical records from 2009-2023 of racehorses treated for epiglottitis.
• Data collected for the study included the horses’ background (signalment), medical history, endoscopic findings, details of treatment progression, duration of hospitalisation, and reasons for re-admission, if any.
• Racing records were also collected to determine the number of days till the first race post-treatment, earnings, and length of racing career for each horse.

Research Findings

• The study sample comprised twenty-four horses. Horses were initially referred due to a variety of upper respiratory problems including, but not limited to, epiglottic entrapment, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and noisy breathing due to a narrowed airway (respiratory stridor).
• Of the horses admitted for what was assumed to be an entrapped epiglottis, a diagnosis of epiglottitis was confirmed instead, based on careful endoscopic examination during admission.
• The treatments used included systemic, topical, and inhaled anti-inflammatories, as well as topical and inhaled antimicrobials.
• Of the 24 horses treated, 22 (91.6%) were able to resume racing after their discharge from the hospital, indicating a positive prognosis with accurate diagnosis and successful treatment.
• Approximately 33.3% (eight) of the horses were re-admitted, with six having a recurrence of epiglottitis and the other two presenting different airway issues.

Research Limitations

• Limitations of this study include those common to a retrospective study design.
• The results could be constrained due to the small sample size and the lack of enough case numbers to compare the outcome of horses treated with inhaled medications versus those that were not.
• The researchers also took into account that racehorses often develop other issues related to racing, which can complicate and potentially skew studies of this nature.

Conclusion

• Despite epiglottitis being a rare and challenging-to-diagnose condition in racehorses, this study has demonstrated that once accurately identified and effectively treated, it offers a favourable prognosis for the horse’s return to athletic function.