Treatment of acute epistaxis secondary to guttural pouch mycosis with transarterial nitinol vascular occlusion plugs in three equids.
Abstract: 2 horses and 1 pony were evaluated for right-sided (1 horse and the pony) and left-sided (1 horse) acute epistaxis of 1 day's to 1 month's duration. Results: Endoscopic examination of the 3 equids revealed that the hemorrhage originated from the right maxillary artery in 2 equids and from the left internal carotid artery in the third. Mycosis of the auditory tube diverticulum (guttural pouch) was detected in all 3 equids. Results: All 3 equids underwent surgery, and transarterial nitinol intravascular plugs were placed to occlude affected blood vessels. All equids survived for a long period (ie, a minimum of 1 to 2 years) and returned to their previous use. All had complete regression of clinical signs of guttural pouch mycosis without additional medical treatment. Conclusions: The use of transarterial nitinol intravascular plugs appeared to be an effective alternative to other techniques for the treatment of epistaxis secondary to guttural pouch mycosis, including transarterial occlusion devices such as embolization coils.
Publication Date: 2009-07-16 PubMed ID: 19601741DOI: 10.2460/javma.235.2.189Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research is about treating nosebleeds in horses due to a fungal infection in the guttural pouch by occluding affected blood vessels using transarterial nitinol intravascular plugs. Long-term survival and return to normal function were seen in all three equids (2 horses and 1 pony) treated with this method.
Objective
The research aimed to explore an alternative treatment for equids (horses, ponies etc) suffering from acute epistaxis (nosebleeds) caused by guttural pouch mycosis (GPM), a common but dangerous fungal infection in their guttural pouch.
Method
- Three equids experiencing nosebleeds for various durations ranging from a day to a month were studied: Right-sided issues were observed in one horse and one pony while the other horse had a problem on the left.
- Endoscopic examination showed that in two equids, the hemorrhage originated from the right maxillary artery while the left internal carotid artery was the source in the third.
- Each of the three equids showed symptoms of guttural pouch mycosis.
- All three were subjected to surgery wherein transarterial nitinol intravascular plugs were implanted to block the affected arteries.
Results
- All three equids survived for a long time post-surgery, with the shortest survival rate being one to two years. Additionally, they were able to return to their normal activities.
- All showed complete reversal of clinical signs of guttural pouch mycosis without the need for additional medication.
Conclusion
The study concluded that the method of using transarterial nitinol intravascular plugs seems to be a potent alternative to other techniques used in treating epistaxis stemming from guttural pouch mycosis including other blood vessel occlusion devices like embolization coils. This method appears to not only survive the condition but also show significant recovery and resumption of normal tasks.
Cite This Article
APA
Delfs KC, Hawkins JF, Hogan DF.
(2009).
Treatment of acute epistaxis secondary to guttural pouch mycosis with transarterial nitinol vascular occlusion plugs in three equids.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 235(2), 189-193.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.235.2.189 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Alloys
- Animals
- Embolization, Therapeutic / instrumentation
- Embolization, Therapeutic / veterinary
- Epistaxis / complications
- Epistaxis / therapy
- Epistaxis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Mycoses / complications
- Mycoses / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Jeon S, Lee G, Lee N, Chang D. Transarterial embolisation in the treatment of persistent haematuria in two dogs with lower urinary tract carcinoma. J Small Anim Pract 2025 Jun;66(6):432-439.
- Vitoria A, Laborda A, Serrano-Casorrán C, Fuente S, Romero A, Vázquez FJ. Percutaneous Ultrasound-Guided Carotid Access and Puncture Closure with Angio-Seal in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jun 7;12(12).
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