Percutaneous puncture technique for treating persistent retropharyngeal lymph node infections in seven horses.

The research study explains a treatment technique specifically aimed at horses suffering from persistent retropharyngeal lymph node infections which aren’t responding to antibiotic treatments. The method described involves puncturing the infected lymph node with a spinal needle, guided by ultrasound, then flushing with saline solution or chlorhexidine and injection of antibiotics in case pus is aspirated.

Background of the Study

• Between 1999 and 2001, the study observed seven horses exhibiting chronic respiratory infections lasting from three weeks to three months.
• All horses had a history of fever and dysphagia, symptoms indicating a pervasive infection.
• Treatments with a range of antibiotics were unsuccessful.

Diagnosis

• Following clinical examinations, endoscopy, and ultrasound scans of the retropharyngeal area, it was confirmed that each horse had a deep abscess in a retropharyngeal lymph node.

Treatment Methodology

• The researchers used ultrasound to guide a spinal needle, which was punctured into the infected retropharyngeal lymph node.
• From four of the horses, pus was aspirated, after which their abscesses were cleaned with a 0.9 per cent saline solution, and antibiotics (either sodium ceftiofur or penicillin) were injected.
• The remaining three horses had a more viscous pus, making aspiration impossible. In these cases, the enlarged lymph node was opened along the same path as the needle and cleansed using chlorhexidine.

Post-Treatment Observations and Outcome

• All seven horses were further treated with a two-week course of penicillin.
• In six of these horses, a progressive disappearance of the apparent symptoms ensued.
• One horse that still showed fever was again kept on penicillin for another 10 days, following which gradual symptom relief was noted over a span of two months.

To conclude, the research suggests that the lymph node puncture methodology may be a promising solution for chronic horse retropharyngeal lymph node infections that don’t respond to typical antibiotic treatments.