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Veterinary surgery : VS2025; 55(1); 88-100; doi: 10.1111/vsu.70023

Laser fenestration of the dorsal pharyngeal recess does not correct experimentally induced dorsal nasopharyngeal collapse in horses.

Abstract: To quantify the impact of experimentally induced dorsal nasopharyngeal collapse (NPC) on respiratory performance parameters and assess the efficacy of laser fenestration of the dorsal pharyngeal recess as a treatment option for experimentally induced NPC. Methods: Experimental interventional study. Methods: Six adult Standardbreds (one with naturally occurring disease). Methods: After an 8 week conditioning program, baseline parameters (V̇Omax, pharyngeal pressure, peak airflows, upper airway resistance) and dynamic endoscopy videos were collected in a high-speed treadmill test (T1). Dorsal NPC was induced via bilateral glossopharyngeal neurectomy, followed by data collection 2 weeks later (T2). Laser fenestration of the dorsal pharyngeal recess was then performed, followed by final data collection 3 weeks later (T3). Respiratory performance parameters for T1-T2, T2-T3, and T1-T3 were compared using paired t-test (p < .05) to evaluate the impact of NPC and efficacy of surgery. Dynamic endoscopy videos were subjectively graded and compared. Results: Moderate to severe dorsal NPC was successfully induced in five horses, with subjective improvement seen on dynamic endoscopy in 2/5 horses after fenestration. After NPC induction, V̇Omax, minute ventilation, and peak expiratory flow rates decreased by 63.5 mL/kg/min (p = .006), 78.8 L/min (p = .039) and 21.8 L/s (p = .013) respectively. Following fenestration, peak inspiratory flow rates decreased by 7.1 L/s (p = .03). In the naturally occurring case, V̇Omax increased by 12.9 mL/kg/min post-fenestration with subjective improvement in the degree of collapse. Conclusions: Respiratory performance parameters worsened following NPC induction in comparison with the baseline and did not improve following laser fenestration. Conclusions: This experimental model did not support clinical application of laser salpingopharyngostomy to treat NPC.
© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2025-10-10 PubMed ID: 41074232PubMed Central: PMC12810456DOI: 10.1111/vsu.70023Google Scholar: Lookup
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APA
Jeong S, Bond S, Bayly W, Sole-Guitart A. (2025). Laser fenestration of the dorsal pharyngeal recess does not correct experimentally induced dorsal nasopharyngeal collapse in horses. Vet Surg, 55(1), 88-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.70023

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 1
Pages: 88-100

Researcher Affiliations

Jeong, Sharon
  • Equine Specialist Hospital, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Bond, Stephanie
  • Equine Specialist Hospital, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Bayly, Warwick
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Sole-Guitart, Albert
  • Equine Specialist Hospital, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Nasopharyngeal Diseases / veterinary
  • Nasopharyngeal Diseases / surgery
  • Male
  • Female
  • Laser Therapy / veterinary
  • Nasopharynx / surgery
  • Pharynx / surgery
  • Endoscopy / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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