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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Surg / Ventriculocordectomy as the sole treatment for recurrent lar...
Veterinary surgery : VS2006; 35(7); 653-657; doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2006.00203.x

Ventriculocordectomy as the sole treatment for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy: long-term results from ninety-two horses.

Abstract: To evaluate the effect ventriculocordectomy (VC) for treatment of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) on exercise performance and owner satisfaction in a mixed-breed population of horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Adult horses (n=92) with a history of abnormal respiratory noise and RLN. Methods: Retrospective analysis of horse that had unilateral VC (and contralateral ventriculectomy in 63 horses) for treatment of idiopathic RLN. Owners/trainers completed a questionnaire about complications and outcome at least 1 year after surgery. Performance index was determined using race records for previously raced Thoroughbreds to evaluate outcome. Results: Clinical signs included abnormal exercise-induced respiratory noises (noises; 52%), poor performance (11%), and noises and poor performance (37%). The median preoperative resting endoscopic grade of laryngeal function was Havemeyer grade III.1 (mild asymmetry). No discharge from the laryngotomy 1 week postoperatively occurred in 62% horses, 22% coughed after surgery, 66% made no noises, 9% continued to make noises at the canter, 21% made noise at the gallop, and 4% of owners were unsure whether noises were present. Ninety-three percent of horses returned to full work after surgery. Overall, 86% of owners considered the surgery worthwhile, 3% did not consider it worthwhile, and 11% were unsure. Surgery had a significantly beneficial effect on the racing performance index in Thoroughbreds (P=.004). Conclusions: VC is a useful alternative to laryngoplasty for selected cases of RLN and is associated with a positive effect on exercise performance, a low postoperative complication rate, and a high rate of owner satisfaction. Conclusions: Unilateral VC should be considered as a sole treatment in horses with low grades of RLN.
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Publication Date: 2006-10-10 PubMed ID: 17026550DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2006.00203.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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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 study investigated the effectiveness of ventriculocordectomy (VC), a surgical procedure, as the sole treatment for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) in horses. The findings demonstrated that VC significantly improved exercise performance and was associated with high owner satisfaction and a low rate of postoperative complications.

Study Overview

  • The research paper reported on a retrospective analysis of 92 adult horses that had displayed abnormal respiratory noise and had been diagnosed with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). The horses underwent either unilateral ventriculocordectomy (VC) or VC with contralateral ventriculectomy.
  • The owners or trainers of the horses were asked to fill out a questionnaire on any complications and the overall outcome of the treatment one year after the surgery.
  • Additionally, the performance index of the horses was determined for those who had previously raced, using available race records.

Presentation of Symptoms

  • The clinical signs that led to the diagnosis of RLN in these horses were primarily abnormal exercise-induced respiratory noises (52% of cases), poor performance (11% of cases), or both (37% of cases).

Surgery Outcome and Postoperative Complications

  • The postoperative results showed that 62% of the horses had no discharge from the laryngotomy one week after surgery.
  • However, 22% of the horses coughed after the surgery, 9% continued to make noises at a canter, 21% made noises during gallop. Additionally, it was reported that 4% of the owners were unsure whether their horses were still making noises after the surgery.

Exercise Performance and Owner Satisfaction

  • The study revealed that 93% of the horses returned to full work following the surgery.
  • With regard to owner satisfaction, 86% of them found the surgery worthwhile. Only a marginal 3% did not find it worthwhile, while 11% were unsure about it.
  • Interestingly, the study found that the surgery had a significantly positive effect (P=.004) on the racing performance index in Thoroughbred horses.

Conclusions

  • Overall, the paper concluded that VC, as a sole treatment, is beneficial in handling cases of RLN in horses and should be considered as a viable alternative to laryngoplasty.
  • The procedure demonstrated an ability to improve exercise performance, had a low rate of postoperative complications, and resulted in high levels of owner satisfaction.
  • Particularly, the paper suggested that VC could be considered as a primary treatment for horses with low grades of RLN.

Cite This Article

APA
Taylor SE, Barakzai SZ, Dixon P. (2006). Ventriculocordectomy as the sole treatment for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy: long-term results from ninety-two horses. Vet Surg, 35(7), 653-657. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2006.00203.x

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 0161-3499
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 7
Pages: 653-657

Researcher Affiliations

Taylor, Sarah E
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Scotland, UK. Sarah.Taylor@ed.ac.uk
Barakzai, Safia Z
    Dixon, Padraic

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Female
      • Hemiplegia / pathology
      • Hemiplegia / surgery
      • Hemiplegia / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / pathology
      • Horse Diseases / surgery
      • Horses
      • Laryngectomy / veterinary
      • Larynx / surgery
      • Male
      • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
      • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
      • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
      • Recurrence
      • Respiratory Sounds / veterinary
      • Retrospective Studies
      • Severity of Illness Index
      • Surveys and Questionnaires
      • Time Factors
      • Treatment Outcome
      • Vocal Cord Paralysis / pathology
      • Vocal Cord Paralysis / surgery
      • Vocal Cord Paralysis / veterinary
      • Vocal Cords / pathology
      • Vocal Cords / surgery

      Citations

      This article has been cited 4 times.
      1. Caspers MK, Bell CD, Tatarniuk DM. Transendoscopic Ventriculocordectomy Using Monopolar Electrosurgical Instrumentation for Conjunctive Treatment of Laryngeal Hemiplegia in Horses: 24 Cases (2017-2019). Front Vet Sci 2021;8:628410.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.628410pubmed: 33732741google scholar: lookup
      2. Draper ACE, Piercy RJ. Pathological classification of equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Jul;32(4):1397-1409.
        doi: 10.1111/jvim.15142pubmed: 29691904google scholar: lookup
      3. Kane-Smyth J, Barnett TP, Mark O'Leary J, Dixon PM. Surgical Treatment of Iatrogenic Ventral Glottic Stenosis Using a Mucosal Flap Technique. Vet Surg 2016 May;45(4):436-42.
        doi: 10.1111/vsu.12465pubmed: 27013024google scholar: lookup
      4. Hardwick JL, Ahern BJ, Crawford KL, Allen KJ, Anderson BH, Rose KJ, Franklin SH. Yearling laryngeal function grades II.2 and below are not associated with reduced performance. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):953-966.
        doi: 10.1111/evj.14452pubmed: 39837796google scholar: lookup
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