Laryngotracheal injury associated with nasotracheal intubation in the horse.

The research studied the damage to the laryngotracheal region in horses that occur due to short-term nasotracheal intubation. It was found that various parts of the afore-mentioned region like the nasal meatus, arytenoid cartilages, trachea, and others experienced damage in most of the horses.

Research Objective and Methodology

• The research aimed to study the potential harm inflicted on the laryngotracheal region of horses due to short-term nasotracheal intubation. Nasotracheal intubation is a process where a plastic tube is inserted into a patient’s trachea through the nose and windpipe to maintain an open airway. This practice is common in veterinary medicine for horses undergoing surgery or requiring anesthesia.
• The study was carried out on seven healthy horses. A flexible fiberoptic endoscope was employed to inspect each horse’s upper respiratory tract before the procedure and subsequently at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours after the removal of the tube.
• If there were still evident abnormalities after 48 hours, the horse was evaluated seven days after tube removal.

Findings

• The results of the study showed that mucosal damage occurred at a variety of sites in the horse’s respiratory tract. Damages were observed in the nasal meatus, the arytenoid cartilages, the trachea, the dorsal pharyngeal recess, the vocal folds, and the entrance to the guttural pouch in varying numbers of the horses being studied.
• The injuries of the larynx were attributed to the pressure from the tube on the arytenoid cartilages and vocal folds. These injuries emerged as a prime concern during the study.
• Furthermore, the tracheal damage was seen as a result of the pressure exerted by the inflated cuff on the tracheal mucosa, leading to injury.

Significance

• The study highlights the potential after-effects of nasotracheal intubation procedures in horses. By pointing out the possible injuries that can be caused and their frequency, it can lead to the development of better precautionary measures or alternative techniques to safeguard the health of the animals.
• The findings of this research provide valuable information for veterinarians and others who perform nasotracheal intubations on horses. It underlines the need to minimize the risk of potential harm to the animals during and after such procedures.