Percutaneous ultrasound-guided arterial angiography for transarterial coil placement in anesthetized and standing horses.

This research aimed to test a method of ultrasound-guided arterial angiography that involved the introduction of a catheter into the common carotid artery (CCA) of horses, in order to study the feasibility of using this angiography in the guttural pouch area and to place a transarterial coil (TAC) in the internal carotid artery (ICA). The results showed that it was possible to safely carry out the angiography and TAC placement on both standing and anaesthetized horses, but difficulties including hematoma formation could complicate the process.

Methodology

• The study focused on healthy, Standardbred horses aged between 5 and 8 years (6 in total).
• Each of these horses underwent percutaneous CCA catheterization and angiography with the guidance of ultrasound, performed while the horses were under general anesthesia.
• The researchers then evaluated the catheterization sites using ultrasound after the operation.
• After a period of ten weeks, researchers performed the same procedure on the same horses, but this time they were sedated and left standing during the process. This procedure was combined with the placement of a transarterial coil (TAC) into the internal carotid artery (ICA).

Results

• The researchers confirmed successful catheterization of the CCA using agitated contrast ultrasonography.
• They identified needle puncture and introducer-set penetration of the CCA as the main technical challenges faced during the procedure.
• The success of angiography and TAC placement was also confirmed through radiography and fluoroscopy.
• The formation of mild hematomas (a localized collection of blood in tissues) was recorded in 4 out of the 12 procedures.

Conclusion

• The results of the study concluded that angiography and the placement of a TAC in the ICA can be safely performed through a percutaneous approach to the CCA under ultrasound guidance.
• This method, according to the researchers, could be used for a TAC embolization procedure on horses either standing or anesthetized.
• The researchers acknowledged that despite the success of the method, technical difficulties and hematoma formation could pose challenges and potentially impair the procedure.