Transarterial coil embolisation in 31 horses (1999-2002) with guttural pouch mycosis: a 2-year follow-up.

The research article is about a study conducted on the effectiveness of Transarterial Coil Embolisation (TCE), a medical intervention, for the treatment of guttural pouch mycosis (GPM) in horses. It includes the outcomes and prognosis of the treated horses over a 2-year period.

Study Objective and Methodology

• The purpose of the research was to comprehend the clinical and surgical aspects of horses inflicted with GPM, treated at the Veterinary School of Lyon, over a span of two years and four months. It also aimed to assess the immediate and long-term outcomes of employing TCE as a treatment method for GPM.
• The data collection method involved the analysis of medical records of all horses treated with TCE from February 1999 to July 2002. It was a qualifying criterion for the horses to not be under any other surgical or medical treatment for GPM.

Investigation and Evaluation

• The researchers scrutinized various details and case histories, including results from preliminary clinical screenings and endoscopic examinations.
• Long-term implications and progress of each case were appraised based on interviews of the horse’s owner or trainer conducted between 24 and 41 months after the surgery.

Study Findings

• The study identified 31 horses suffering from GPM, either unilateral (one-sided) or bilateral (two-sided) affecting only the medial (inside) or the lateral (outside) compartments or both simultaneously.
• From 23 horses that manifested epistaxis (nosebleed), 20 experienced a complete resolution of the problem post-TCE. However, from 19 horses displaying neurological signs, 2 had to be euthanised due to continuous severe dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing).
• In terms of prognosis, the survival rate was high with an excellent 84%, and the likelihood of returning to the performance level desired by the trainer or owner was also fairly good at 71%.

Conclusions

• TCE emerged as an effective procedure in halting bleeding and resolving a majority of mycotic lesions without the need for further specific treatment in horses with GPM.
• One of the significant findings of the study was that there was no relapse of GPM among the treated horses during the follow-up period.