EXPERIENCES IN TREATMENT OF EPIGLOTTAL ENTRAPMENT USING A HOOK KNIFE PER NASUM

Thirty eight horses with epiglottal entrapment were examined, In 29 th e dorsally displaced mucosa was split axially with a curved hook knife , per nasum. The condition was also treated by .subepiglottal mucosal resection (4 horses) and solely by the administration of an anti-infla mmatory throat spray (4 horses). All surgical cases were treated with an anti-inflammatory throat spray and parenteral phenylbutazone. Those horses treated via a laryngotomy incision were box rested until the l aryngotomy incision healed. The other horses were restricted to walkin g and trotting exercise for 10 days before endoscopic re assessment. I f the condition had resolved by this stage the horse was then returned to full exercise. Epiglottal entrapment was alleviated in 22 horses t reated by axial section but it recurred in 4 and 3 cases were lost to follow up. Two of 4 cases were treated successfully but mucosal resect ion and 2 of 4 cases by Nd:YAG laser. Three out of the 4 horses treate d medically also recovered. Of the 38 horses, 6 required a second oper ation and 2 had a third surgical procedure. Of the horses treated by a xial section of the displaced mucosa, 14 ran successfully without a re spiratory sound or obstruction and 4 won races. In conclusion, using t he hook knife inserted via the nasal passages offers a safe, relativel y inexpensive and successful method of treating epiglottal entrapment.