Stent reconstruction of an injured parotid duct in a thoroughbred colt.

The research investigates the use of a stent to repair an injured parotid duct, a part of the salivary apparatus, in a two-year-old thoroughbred colt. The stent, usually used for human ureteral procedures, was placed in the damaged sector of the parotid duct and led to successful healing and restored functionality.

Methods and Procedure

• The study focusses on a 2-year-old thoroughbred colt which had a chronic injury to its parotid duct – a part of the salivary gland system in horses.
• The defective portion of the parotid duct was discovered 4-cm towards the rear of the facial vessel notch on the colt’s right mandible’s lower edge.
• A surgical dissection was made carefully around the dense fibrous tissue in the area of the injury.
• Following this, the torn part was temporarily supported and covered using an 8-Fr human ureteral catheter to bridge the tissue loss.
• The ureteral catheter used in this case was a product from Laboratoires Pharmaceutique, Betschdorf, France labeled 223600 ERU(®) SOFT URETERAL(®).
• One end of the catheter tube exited the oral cavity through a small incision, called a buccotomy stab, positioned at the level of the second premolar tooth in the colt’s maxilla.

Results and Conclusion

• The surgical wound began to heal naturally, and while healing, the stent was kept in place for 5 weeks.
• During this period, saliva could be seen draining when the colt was fed, indicating the stent was working.
• After 5 weeks, the stent was removed and it was observed that the function of the parotid duct was restored.
• Not only did functionality return, but the surgery also preserved the appearance of the area (cosmesis).
• The study concludes by asserting that a tissue defect in the parotid duct can be successfully treated with a temporary stent, until the wound healing is complete.