Transendoscopic Ventriculocordectomy Using Monopolar Electrosurgical Instrumentation for Conjunctive Treatment of Laryngeal Hemiplegia in Horses: 24 Cases (2017-2019).
Abstract: Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and owner satisfaction following electrosurgical ventriculocordectomy (EVC), in conjunction with prosthetic laryngoplasty, in equine clinical cases affected with left- or right-sided recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. Methods: Retrospective data analysis of clinical signalment, surgery, athletic outcome, intra- and postoperative complications, and postoperative examinations from clinical cases wherein EVC was performed in conjunction with traditional prosthetic laryngoplasty from one practice. Owners were contacted by phone or email for a follow-up questionnaire. Results: Twenty-four horses underwent unilateral EVC, performed transendoscopically under sedated restraint, using monopolar electrosurgical instrumentation successfully. One horse experienced excessive intraoperative hemorrhage. No horses demonstrated postoperative complications. Twenty cases had a history of increased airway noise prior to surgery. In 15 of these cases (15/20, 75%), the airway noise was reported as fully improved post-surgery. Eighteen cases had a history of exercise intolerance prior to surgery. In 15 of these cases (15/18; 83%), the exercise intolerance was reported as resolved. Conclusion: EVC, in conjunction with prosthetic laryngoplasty, can contribute to improvement of RLN symptoms and aid in the effective return to athletic work. Performing transendoscopic ventriculocordectomy with monopolar electrosurgical instrumentation provides comparable clinical outcomes to traditional techniques using a diode laser or direct excision via laryngotomy.
Copyright © 2021 Caspers, Bell and Tatarniuk.
Publication Date: 2021-03-01 PubMed ID: 33732741PubMed Central: PMC7957056DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.628410Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Athletic Horses
- Athletic Performance
- Case Reports
- Clinical Study
- Clinical Symptoms
- Complications
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Treatment
- Endoscopy
- Equine Health
- Hemorrhage
- Horses
- Laryngeal Dysfunction
- Laryngoplasty
- Post-Operative Period
- Respiratory Health
- Retrospective Study
- Surgery
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research article evaluates the efficacy and safety of electrosurgical ventriculocordectomy (EVC) in treating horses with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy, a nerve disorder that affects breathing and exercise capacity. The research retrospectively analyzes cases where EVC was coupled with prosthetic laryngoplasty to enhance the benefits of this treatment.
Objective and Methodology
- The primary goal of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of electrosurgical ventriculocordectomy (EVC) for treating horses suffering from recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. The procedure was performed along with conventional prosthetic laryngoplasty.
- The procedure was assessed by analyzing aspects such as clinical information, surgery details, athletic outcome, intra and postoperative complications, and postoperative examinations from cases in a single practice. These cases were where EVC and prosthetic laryngoplasty were performed concurrently.
- For postoperative follow-up, the horse owners were contacted and asked to fill in a questionnaire.
Results
- Out of the 24 horses that underwent the EVC procedure, only one experienced excessive intraoperative bleeding. Importantly, no horses demonstrated any postoperative complications, highlighting the relative safety of this approach.
- Before the surgery, 20 cases had reported increased airway noise, a hallmark of laryngeal hemiplegia. In 75% of these cases, the airway noise significantly improved post-surgery. This suggests that the combination of EVC and prosthetic laryngoplasty is effective in managing symptoms associated with laryngeal hemiplegia.
- In total, 18 horses displayed exercise intolerance before the surgery due to their condition. Remarkably, 83% of these horses could exercise normally after the procedure, further supporting the effectivity of the treatment.
Conclusion
- According to the study results, EVC when used along with prosthetic laryngoplasty can considerably improve symptoms of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in horses, helping them return to their athletic activities.
- The research also states that using monopolar electrosurgical instrumentation for transendoscopic ventriculocordectomy provides similar clinical outcomes compared to traditional techniques that use a diode laser or direct excision via laryngotomy. Therefore, the procedure can present an alternative to traditional techniques.
Cite This Article
APA
Caspers MK, Bell CD, Tatarniuk DM.
(2021).
Transendoscopic Ventriculocordectomy Using Monopolar Electrosurgical Instrumentation for Conjunctive Treatment of Laryngeal Hemiplegia in Horses: 24 Cases (2017-2019).
Front Vet Sci, 8, 628410.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.628410 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States.
- Elders Equine Veterinary Services, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
This article includes 15 references
- Hillidge CJ. Prevalence of laryngeal hemiplegia on a Thoroughbred horse farm. J Equine Vet Sci (1985) 5:252–4.
- Stick JA, Peloso JG, Morehead JP, Lloyd J, Eberhart S, Padungtod P. Endoscopic assessment of airway function as a predictor of racing performance in Thoroughbred yearlings: 427 cases (1997 – 2000). J Am Vet Med Assoc (2001) 219:962–7.
- Brakenhoff JE, Holcombe SJ, Hauptman JG, Smith HK, Nickels FA, Caron JP. The prevalence of laryngeal disease in a large population of competition draft horses. Vet Surg (2006) 35:579–83.
- Ducharme NG, Rossignol F. Larynx. Equine Surgery (2018) p. 734–69.
- Brown JA, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Hartmann WM, Robinson NE. Ventriculocordectomy reduces respiratory noise in horses with laryngeal hemiplegia. Equine Vet J (2003) 35:570–4.
- Taylor SE, Barakzai SZ, Dixon P. Ventriculocordectomy as the sole treatment for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy: long-term results from ninety-two horses. Vet Surg (2006) 35:653–7.
- Henderson CE, Sullins KE, Brown JA. Transendoscopic, laser-assisted ventriculocordectomy for treatment of left laryngeal hemiplegia in horses: 22 cases (1999–2005). J Am Vet Med Assoc (2007) 231:1868–72.
- Robinson P, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Sullins KE, DeTolve PG, Robinson NE. Effects of unilateral laser-assisted ventriculocordectomy in horses with laryngeal hemiplegia. Equine Vet J (2006) 38:491–6.
- Kraus BM, Parente EJ, Tulleners EP. Laryngoplasty with ventriculectomy or ventriculocordectomy in 104 draft horses (1992–2000). Vet Surg (2003) 32:530–8.
- Robinson P, Williams KJ, Sullins KE, Arnoczky SP, Stick JA, Robinson NE. Histological evaluation of the equine larynx after unilateral laser-assisted ventriculocordectomy. Equine Vet J (2007) 39:222–5.
- Suarez-Fuentes DG, Tatarniuk DM, Caston SS, Bell CD, Loinaz RJ, Hostetter JM. Adaptation and evaluation of a monopolar electrosurgical triangle-tip knife for Adaptation and evaluation of a monopolar electrosurgical triangle-tip knife for transendoscopic ventriculocordectomy in healthy horses. Vet Surg (2019) 48:481–7.
- Robinson NE. Consensus statements on equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy: conclusions of the Havemeyer Workshop: September 2003, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, UK. Equine Vet Educ (2004) 16:333–6.
- Dixon PM, McGorum BC, Railton DI, Hawe C, Tremaine WH, Dacre K. Long-term survey of laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy in an older, mixed-breed population of 200 horses. Part 2: Owners' assessment of the value of surgery. Equine Vet J (2003) 35:397–401.
- Hawkins JF, Tulleners EP, Ross MW, Evans LH, Raker CW. Laryngoplasty with or without ventriculectomy for treatment of left laryngeal hemiplegia in 230 racehorses. Vet Surg (1997) 26:484–91.
- Cramp P, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Nickels FA, Brown KE, Robinson P. Effect of ventriculectomy versus ventriculocordectomy on upper airway noise in draught horses with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. Equine Vet J (2009) 41:729–34.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Munif MR, Islam MA, Rahman MS, Rahman MM, Alam MR. Clinical efficacy of electrosurgery and steel scalpel surgery for umbilical herniorrhaphy in bovine calves: A comparative analysis. Heliyon 2025 Jan 15;11(1):e41454.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
