Treatment of laryngeal hemiplegia in horses by prosthetic laryngoplasty, ventriculectomy and vocal cordectomy.

This study analyzes the records of 80 horses to evaluate the effectiveness of prosthetic laryngoplasty, ventriculectomy and vocal cordectomy in treating left laryngeal hemiplegia. The assessment considers factors like the animals’ age and purpose, and if including a vocal cordectomy improves the success rate. The findings show a 70% overall success rate with notable disparities among different horse types, age groups and subjective vs. objective assessments.

Methodology

• The researchers analyzed medical records of 80 horses that were treated for left laryngeal hemiplegia. The treatments involved prosthetic laryngoplasty, ventriculectomy and vocal cordectomy.
• The first goal was to compare success rates within groups of horses of different ages and uses. The second goal was to determine whether including a vocal cordectomy in the treatment regimen improved success rates compared to laryngoplasty and ventriculectomy alone.

Findings

• 70% of the horses were subjectively assessed to have had a successful surgical outcome by their owners and trainers.
• The success rate differed depending on the breed of the horse:
  • 66% success rate for thoroughbred racehorses.
  • 90% success rate for horses of other breeds.
• The success rate also varied based on the age of thoroughbreds:
  • 69% success rate for horses two years old or younger.
  • 61% success rate for older horses.
• In 17 of the cases, an objective performance index was calculated after surgery, resulting in a 59% improved performance rate.
• The objective and subjective success rates had a near significant correlation (P=0.078), meaning that the owner/trainer’s assessment mostly lined up with the more scientific measure of success.
• 6 out of 69 horses (8.7%) continued to make respiratory noise after the surgery.

Conclusion

• The study found no clear association between the age of horses and the success of the surgery.
• The subjective assessments by the owners and trainers did not always match the objective findings of the study.
• Although the inclusion of vocal cordectomy may help reduce postoperative respiratory noise, it does not necessarily increase the overall clinical success rates.