CASE-REPORT - TRANSENDOSCOPIC TREATMENT O F AN INTERMITTENT EPIGLOTTIC ENTRAPMENT IN THE STANDING HORSE

Epiglottic entrapment can be associated with poor performance in- and exspiratory stertor and occasionally with coughing (Honnas and Wheat 1 988; Robertson, 1991; Lumsden et al., 1994; Lumsden at al. 1995). But it can also be an incidental finding (Ferraro, 1990). A 14 year old Tr akehner stallion was presented to the Veterinary Hospital of the Unive rsity of Zurich with a history of an abnormal inspiratory noise increa sing with exercise. The general physical examination showed no abnorma lities. By endoscopy during exercise on a high-speed treadmill the dia gnosis of intermittent epiglottic entrapment could be made. Therapy co nsisted of two transendoscopic surgeries two days apart. In the first session subepiglotteal tissue was resected via a transoral approach, i n a second session the aryepiglottic folds were partly removed. Both m anipulations were performed electrosurgically with a wire snare in the standing, sedated horse and local anaesthesia of the mucosal membrane s. No medication was given after surgery. The horse was fed fresh gras and was walked daily for 15 minutes for one week. Six days after the second surgery no abnormalities on general physical examination and du ring an endoscopy at rest were present. By exercise endoscopy on the t readmill the Epiglottic entrapment could not be induced any more neith er at the same or at higher exercise intensities than before surgery. The main advantages of the surgical technique used in this case are th e easy to perform procedure, minimal trauma by the transoral approach and a short reconvalescence period.