Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser ablation of a urethral web to relieve urinary outflow obstruction in a horse.

This research article discusses a case where a horse suffering from urinary issue was successfully treated using a neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser.

Overview of the Case

• An 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding horse was brought in for examination due to urinary dribbling and blockage in its urethra. Upon neurological examination, mild proprioceptive deficiencies were observed in the horse’s left hind limb. Further diagnostic evaluation, conducted using ultrasonography, revealed an unexpected expansion in the pelvic section of the urethra.

Diagnostic Findings

• An endoscopic examination of the urethra was carried out, which revealed the presence of two tissue webs. The first web was situated 10 cm away from the external urethral opening, while the second one, which blocked the endoscope from reaching the urinary bladder, was located 65 cm from the external urethral opening.

Treatment Procedure

• The obstructing mass was eradicated using a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, following a transendoscopic, non-contact approach. This method enabled the practitioners to effectively and conveniently perform the procedure via the horse’s urethra without causing harm to its tissues.

Follow-up and Results

• Six months post the laser ablation surgery, a follow-up examination was conducted. The endoscope could smoothly pass into the urinary bladder without facing any obstructions. There were no indications of urethral webs. While the horse was able to discharge a stream of urine, occasional urine dribbling was still observed.
• The prominent positioning of the urethral lesion in the horse would have made the application of traditional surgical methods difficult. However, the transendoscopic laser photoablation procedure was found to be straightforward and efficient in this case.