ENDOSCOPIC EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT OF PARANASAL SINUS DISEASE IN 16HORSES

Sixteen horses with suspected paranasal sinus disease had endoscopic e xamination of the paranasal sinuses with a 4.0 mm arthroscope either w hile standing and sedated (14 horses) or under general anesthesia (two horses). Endoscopic diagnosis included sinusitis (four horses), sinus cyst (three horses), hemorrhage (three horses), neoplasia (three hors es), and tooth root abnormalities (two horses). No abnormalities were detected in one horse. Endoscopic findings concurred with the radiogra phic findings in 13 horses (81 %). Samples of sinus contents for bacte riologic (eight horses) and histologic examinations (five horses) were obtained using sinus endoscopy. Diagnostic sinus endoscopy was combin ed with debridement, lavage, and suction as a therapeutic technique in 10 horses. In three horses, sinus exploration was performed after dia gnostic endoscopy confirmed sinus disease, whereas in three horses, fu rther therapy was not recommended after sinus endoscopy. Clinical sign s of sinus disease resolved in 11 horses (69%) overall and in eight of 10 horses (80%) with sinusitis, cyst formation, or hemorrhage using e ndoscopic techniques alone. Mild, local subcutaneous emphysema occurre d at the portal sites in all horses, but healing occurred without addi tional complications. Iatrogenic damage to sinus structures occurred i n one horse. Sinus endoscopy was useful in the diagnosis and managemen t of paranasal sinus disease and avoided the need for exploratory sinu sotomy in some horses.