Indications for and short- and long-term outcome of permanent tracheostomy performed in standing horses: 82 cases (1995-2005).
Abstract: To identify indications for and short- and long-term outcome of permanent tracheostomy performed in standing horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 82 horses undergoing permanent tracheostomy. Methods: Data obtained from medical records included signalment, diagnosis, surgical technique, complications, use of the horse before and after surgery, and owner satisfaction. Follow-up information was obtained through a telephone questionnaire administered to owners. Results: Indications for permanent tracheostomy included nasopharyngeal cicatrix (n = 59), arytenoid chondropathy (55), and laryngeal hemiplegia (20); 54 horses had multiple indications for tracheostomy. Complications identified prior to discharge included partial dehiscence (n = 8), transient fever (10), and excessive swelling (13). Complications identified after discharge included partial dehiscence (n = 3), inversion of skin (2), and stenosis of the tracheostomy requiring repair (1). Long-term follow-up information was available for 64 horses. Fifty-seven of the 64 (89%) horses returned to their previous use, and owners of 63 (98%) horses reported being very satisfied with the results. The owner of 1 (2%) horse was unsatisfied with the results. The 1-year survival rate was 97% (95% confidence interval, 95% to 100%). Mean estimated truncated survival time (ie, failure-free period) was 9.7 years (95% confidence interval, 9.3 to 10.1 years). Conclusions: Results suggested that permanent tracheostomy can be safely performed in standing horses and was a viable treatment for horses with obstructive disease of the upper respiratory tract that was unresponsive to medical treatment or other surgical treatments.
Publication Date: 2008-05-02 PubMed ID: 18447781DOI: 10.2460/javma.232.9.1352Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study investigates the reasons for and the short-term and long-term outcomes of permanent tracheostomy procedures done on standing horses. The study shows that the procedure is generally successful and safe for the treatment of obstructive diseases in the upper respiratory tract that have not responded to other treatments.
Methods
- The researchers conducted a retrospective case study with data of 82 horses that had undergone permanent tracheostomy.
- Data taken from various medical records included the animals’ characteristics (signalment), diagnosis, the surgical method used, any encountered complications, the horse’s functionality before and after the operation, and the satisfaction of the owners.
- Further insight was gleaned from a follow-up conducted via telephone, as owners provided feedback relating to their experience.
Results
- The study found various reasons for permanent tracheostomy, including nasopharyngeal cicatrix (59), arytenoid chondropathy (55), and laryngeal hemiplegia (20), with 54 horses having multiple reasons for the procedure.
- The complications reported prior to discharge included partial dehiscence (8 instances), transient fever (10 instances), and excessive swelling (13 instances).
- Post-discharge complications were fewer, with instances of partial dehiscence (3), inversion of skin (2), and a case of tracheostomy stenosis necessitating repair.
- Upon long-term follow-up, data was obtainable for 64 horses. The majority (57 out of 64, or 89%) of these equine subjects returned to their prior function, and nearly all owners (98%) reported satisfaction with the surgical outcome.
- Only one owner expressed dissatisfaction, and the 1-year survival rate stood at an impressive 97%, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 95% to 100%.
- The calculated average failure-free period was 9.7 years, with a 95% confidence interval from 9.3 to 10.1 years.
Conclusion
- The findings of the study posit that permanent tracheostomy is a safe and effective treatment method for horses suffering from obstructive diseases in the upper respiratory tract that do not respond to medical or other surgical treatments.
Cite This Article
APA
Chesen AB, Rakestraw PC.
(2008).
Indications for and short- and long-term outcome of permanent tracheostomy performed in standing horses: 82 cases (1995-2005).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 232(9), 1352-1356.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.232.9.1352 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Equidae / surgery
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Male
- Patient Satisfaction
- Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Survival Analysis
- Time Factors
- Tracheostomy / methods
- Tracheostomy / veterinary
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Rodríguez N, Whitfield-Cargile CM, Chamoun-Emanuelli AM, Hildreth E, Jordan W, Coleman MC. Nasopharyngeal bacterial and fungal microbiota in normal horses and horses with nasopharyngeal cicatrix syndrome.. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Nov;35(6):2897-2911.
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