Pleuropneumonia as a sequela of myelography and general anaesthesia in a Thoroughbred colt.

This research paper discusses the case of a 3-year-old Thoroughbred colt that developed pleuropneumonia, a severe lung infection, following a spinal cord examination and anesthesia. The study suggests that the procedure led to tracheal damage and thus, indirectly to the lung infection.

Case presentation and examination

• A 3-year-old Thoroughbred colt was brought in for evaluation due to ataxia, a neurological condition leading to lack of control over body movements.
• The colt was anaesthetised to conduct cervical radiography and myelography, an imaging procedure to investigate the spinal cord. The colt woke up from the anesthesia without any complications.

Further complication and euthanasia

• Five days after the anesthesia and the examinations, the horse was brought back with pleuropneumonia, a severe infection of the lungs.
• Due to the severity of the infection and resulting poor health conditions, the colt was euthanased within 24 hours following humane protocols.
• Upon necropsy, severe erosion of the trachea, pleuropneumonia, and a significant narrowing of the cervical cord between the C4 and C6 vertebrae was discovered.

Postulation of cause and implications

• The researchers propose that during the myelography procedure, the repeated extension and flexion of the colt’s neck resulted in the endotracheal tube cuff moving, leading to tracheal damage.
• This tracheal damage, it is suggested, made the colt more susceptible to developing pleuropneumonia.
• Tracheal damage and resulting pleuropneumonia had not been previously documented as potential complications arising from equine myelography.
• This research implies that such potential complications, while seemingly rare, should nonetheless be taken into consideration when performing repeated cervical manipulations during myelography.