Abstracts | EQUINE
Salpingopharyngeal Fistula as a
Treatment for Guttural Pouch Mycosis
in Seven Horses
A. R. Watkins E. J. Parente
Background Guttural pouch mycosis (GPM) is a cause of nasal
discharge, dysphagia and fatal haemorrhage in the
horse. concurrent medical therapy, location of the fistula,
surgical time, time to resolution of clinical signs, time
to full resolution of the mycotic plaque, and patency
of the salpingopharyngostomy site.
Objectives Results
To report the complications and success of
salpingopharyngeal fistulation in horses with GPM.
We hypothesised that creating a direct static opening
into the guttural pouch from the pharynx would cause
a regression of fungal plaques due to a change in the
guttural pouch environment and that this treatment
would result in resolution of infection prior to
secondary complications.
Study design
Main limitations
There were differing adjunctive treatments between
cases. This technique is not appropriate for horses that
have had epistaxis or are currently bleeding.
Retrospective case series.
Methods
Nasal discharge resolved in 10–30 days post‐
operatively in all cases where nasal discharge was
present. The mycotic plaques showed complete
resolution at time points ranging from 1 to 6 months
post‐operatively. No case developed epistaxis or
neurological deficits post‐operatively that were not
present at presentation.
The medical records of all horses diagnosed with
GPM that were presented to New Bolton Center
between the years 2006 and 2017 were examined
retrospectively. Seven cases of guttural pouch mycosis
treated with salpingopharyngostomy without other
surgical intervention were included. Information
collected included signalment, presenting complaint,
which pouch was affected, size and location of
the plaques, laryngeal and pharyngeal function,
Conclusions
Salpingopharyngostomy can minimise cost of
treatment, be performed on an outpatient basis and
provide better exposure of the infected area with
few complications. This case series documents seven
cases treated with this method that resolved the
infection without any further complications of the
mycosis.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/evj.12830
• Volume 20 Issue 2 | July 2018 •
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