Performance analysis after prosthetic laryngoplasty and bilateral ventriculectomy for laryngeal hemiplegia in horses: 70 cases (1986-1991).
Abstract: Medical records of 70 horses diagnosed with left laryngeal hemiplegia that were treated by use of prosthetic laryngoplasty combined with bilateral ventriculectomy were examined. Degree of arytenoid cartilage abduction that had resulted from the prosthesis had been graded before the horse was discharged from the hospital. Follow-up information through owner/trainer questioning was acquired for 55 horses. Information concerning the type and frequency of complications, if any, was recorded, along with a determination of owner/trainer satisfaction regarding surgical results. Race records were acquired for 42 horses and were used to aid in evaluation of postoperative performance. After surgery, Thoroughbred racehorses had a much lower success rate (48%; 19 of 40 horses), determined from owner/trainer questioning, than did all breeds in the study that were not intended for racing (93%; 14 of 15 horses). Younger Thoroughbred race-horses had a better success rate (70%; 14/20) than did those > or = 3 years old (25%; 5/20). Degree of arytenoid abduction had little effect on outcome, except that horses with maximal abduction (grade 5) of the arytenoid cartilage had a higher prevalence of complications and poor correction. The 2 most prevalent complications were exercise intolerance (42%; 23 of 55 horses) and continuing noise when exercising (47%; 26 of 55 horses).
Publication Date: 1994-04-15 PubMed ID: 8014096
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research examines the effectiveness of treating left laryngeal hemiplegia in horses through prosthetic laryngoplasty and bilateral ventriculectomy. The study finds that the treatment has a lower success rate in Thoroughbred racehorses and horses with maximal arytenoid cartilage abduction tend to have a higher rate of complications.
Methodology
- The study involved medical records of 70 horses that were diagnosed with left laryngeal hemiplegia and treated using prosthetic laryngoplasty and bilateral ventriculectomy.
- The degree of abduction of the arytenoid cartilage, resulting from the prosthesis, was graded before each horse was discharged from the hospital.
- Follow-up information for 55 horses was gathered through consultations with owners and trainers. These included details about complications and owner/trainer satisfaction with surgical results.
- Race records were also obtained for 42 horses to assist in the evaluation of postoperative performance.
Findings
- Thoroughbred racehorses, post procedure, demonstrated a much lower success rate (48%) compared to all other breeds in the study that were not used for racing (93%) as per owner/trainer feedback.
- Among Thoroughbred racehorses, younger ones had a better success rate (70%) compared to horses aged 3 years or older (25%).
- The degree of arytenoid abduction had little impact on the outcome, with one noteworthy exception – horses with maximal abduction (grade 5) of the arytenoid cartilage generally faced more complications and poorer correction.
Complications
- Two most common complications were exercise intolerance and ongoing noise when exercising which showed up in around 42% and 47% of horses respectively.
This study emphasizes the impact of age and race-breed difference in horses on the efficacy of laryngoplasty and ventriculectomy as treatment for left laryngeal hemiplegia, highlighting its lesser effectiveness for Thoroughbred racehorses, older horses, and those with maximal arytenoid abduction.
Cite This Article
APA
Russell AP, Slone DE.
(1994).
Performance analysis after prosthetic laryngoplasty and bilateral ventriculectomy for laryngeal hemiplegia in horses: 70 cases (1986-1991).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 204(8), 1235-1241.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Peterson, Smith, Matthews, Hahn, and Slone, PA Equine Hospital, Ocala, FL 34474.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Larynx / surgery
- Male
- Mucous Membrane / surgery
- Physical Exertion
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Prostheses and Implants / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
- Vocal Cord Paralysis / surgery
- Vocal Cord Paralysis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Hardwick JL, Ahern BJ, Crawford KL, Allen KJ, Franklin SH. Yearling laryngeal function in Thoroughbreds that underwent a laryngoplasty differs from controls. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):431-440.
- Kane-Smyth J, Barnett TP, Mark O'Leary J, Dixon PM. Surgical Treatment of Iatrogenic Ventral Glottic Stenosis Using a Mucosal Flap Technique. Vet Surg 2016 May;45(4):436-42.
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