Occlusion of internal carotid artery in the horse by means of a balloon-tipped catheter: evaluation of a method designed to prevent epistaxis caused by guttural pouch mycosis.

The research article is about a studied surgical technique used to treat horses with guttural pouch mycosis, a fungal infection. This procedure occludes or blocks the internal carotid artery with an intraluminal balloon-tipped catheter with the aim of preventing nosebleeds which are a common symptom of the infection.

Research Method

• The study was conducted on nine clinically normal horses. The procedure of using a balloon-tipped catheter to occlude the internal carotid artery was implemented in each.
• It was conducted as a modification of an existing procedure used for treating guttural pouch mycosis in horses.
• The internal carotid artery on the left was surgically tied off at its origin and occluded distally utilising an intraluminal balloon catheter.

Procedure and Observation

• In four of the horses, the balloon-tipped catheters were left in place up to the point of euthanasia, which happened 4 to 244 days post-surgery.
• In the remaining five horses, the catheters were removed after a period of 10 to 14 days through a surgical cutdown procedure. These horses were euthanized 1 to 60 days after the removal of the catheter.
• Both the groups of horses were closely observed, and it was found that occlusive thrombosis, a condition where a blood clot blocks the blood vessel, had developed in the sections of the artery that were located distal to the balloon.

Findings and Conclusion

• The study did not report any post-operation complications in any of the horses.
• This indicates that the procedure could be a viable option for treating horses suffering from guttural pouch mycosis and preventing the related complications, such as nosebleeds.