Probable congenital esophageal stenosis in a thoroughbred foal.

This study describes the diagnosis and treatment of a case of esophageal stenosis in a seven-day-old thoroughbred foal.

Esophageal Stenosis Diagnosis in Foal

• The research presents a case of a seven-day-old thoroughbred foal diagnosed with esophageal stenosis.
• The foal was referred for evaluation due to bilateral milky nasal discharge, a symptom that led to this diagnosis.
• Double-contrast radiography was used to reveal a concentric narrowing of the foal’s esophagus at the level of the fifth rib, an area overlying the base of the heart.
• The diagnosis was able to rule out lateral displacement of the esophagus, which was not apparent during evaluation.

Exclusion of Vascular Ring Anomaly

• X-ray computed tomography of the cranial portion of the thorax was utilized to confirm normal cardiac and great vessel anatomy.
• This imaging test served to rule out a vascular ring anomaly, another condition that could have caused the foal’s symptoms.

Treatment and Progress of the Foal

• Treatment for this case of esophageal stenosis involved the placement of a nasogastric tube, which extended past the stenosis and into the stomach.
• The foal was fed mares’ milk via this tube as part of the initial treatment.
• On day 14, the foal was allowed to nurse the mare hourly and was made to stand with the cranial half of its body elevated for 5 minutes after each feeding, a procedure that likely helped facilitate proper food intake and digestion.
• By day 19, the foal was allowed to nurse and eat hay and grain freely with the mare, and signs of regurgitation and aspiration were not observed.
• The study reports that by day 29, the foal was well enough to be discharged and returned to the owner.