Upper esophageal incompetence in five horses after prosthetic laryngoplasty.
Abstract: To describe a complication observed endoscopically in horses after prosthetic laryngoplasty (LP). Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n = 5) that had previous LP. Methods: Four horses had endoscopic examination as part of a larger prospective study and had saliva emanating from their upper esophageal opening. One other horse was referred with clinical signs of severe upper esophageal obstruction 2 months after LP. Results: Four horses were observed to have saliva emanating from their upper esophageal opening during endoscopic examination 21-58 months after LP. Esophageal reflux was noted endoscopically at rest (n = 1) and during exercise (4). All 5 horses were reported to cough postoperatively, and 2 horses coughed severely when eating. On necropsy, the horse referred with signs of esophageal obstruction had dilation of the proximal esophagus associated with food impaction and had fibrosis and thickening of the left cricopharyngeus and thyropharyngeus muscles. Conclusions: Iatrogenic damage to the caudal pharyngeal constrictor muscles, the intrinsic musculature of the upper esophagus, or their innervation, or damage to the peri-esophageal fascia or esophageal adventitia may cause upper esophageal incompetence in horses after LP.
© Copyright 2014 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Publication Date: 2014-01-31 PubMed ID: 24484183DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12101.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper discusses complications observed in five horses following a surgical procedure known as prosthetic laryngoplasty, and specifically covers the issue of upper esophageal incompetence. This condition was identified via endoscopic examination and manifested as obstruction and difficulties experienced by the horses when eating.
Methods and Subject Pool
- The study utilized a case series method, with the number of horses under observation being five. All of these horses had previously undergone prosthetic laryngoplasty.
- Four of these horses were examined as part of a larger, prospective study, during which endoscopic examinations revealed saliva emanating from their upper esophageal opening.
- One other horse was referred for examination after presenting severe upper esophageal obstruction symptoms two months after the laryngoplasty surgery.
Results and Findings
- Upon endoscopic examination conducted 21-58 months after the surgery, four horses showed saliva emanating from their upper esophageal opening.
- Esophageal reflux was noticeable at resting state for one horse and during exercise for the four other horses.
- All horses demonstrated post-operative coughing behavior, with two of them coughing severely during feeding.
- A necropsy on the horse with severe esophageal obstruction revealed dilation of the proximal esophagus due to food impaction, along with fibrosis (scarring) and thickening of the left cricopharyngeus and thyropharyngeus muscles (the muscles surrounding the esophageal opening).
Conclusion
- The study postulates that the upper esophageal incompetence observed in these horses might be a result of iatrogenic (caused by medical examination or treatment) damage. This damage could be inflicted on the caudal pharyngeal constrictor muscles, the intrinsic musculature of the upper esophagus, their innervation, or the peri-esophageal fascia or esophageal adventitia.
- Although the study doesn’t definitively confirm the cause of the incompetence, it opens up discussions around possible complications that can arise from laryngoplasty procedures, highlighting the need for further research and consideration of potential risks in the treatment protocol.
Cite This Article
APA
Barakzai SZ, Dixon PM, Hawkes CS, Cox A, Barnett TP.
(2014).
Upper esophageal incompetence in five horses after prosthetic laryngoplasty.
Vet Surg, 44(2), 150-155.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12101.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Chine House Veterinary Hospital, Sileby, Leicestershire, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Esophageal Achalasia / etiology
- Esophageal Achalasia / veterinary
- Esophagoscopy / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Laryngoplasty / adverse effects
- Laryngoplasty / veterinary
- Larynx, Artificial / adverse effects
- Larynx, Artificial / veterinary
- Male
- Postoperative Complications / etiology
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Prospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Byrne CA, Hotchkiss JW, Barakzai SZ. Variations in the application of equine prosthetic laryngoplasty: A survey of 128 equine surgeons.. Vet Surg 2023 Feb;52(2):209-220.
- Wright S. Highlights of recent clinically relevant papers.. Equine Vet Educ 2015 Apr;27(4):167-168.
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