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

Thirty eight horses with epiglottal entrapment were examined, In 29 the 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-inflammatory 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 laryngotomy incision healed. The other horses were restricted to walking and trotting exercise for 10 days before endoscopic re assessment. If the condition had resolved by this stage the horse was then returned to full exercise. Epiglottal entrapment was alleviated in 22 horses treated 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 resection and 2 of 4 cases by Nd:YAG laser. Three out of the 4 horses treated medically also recovered. Of the 38 horses, 6 required a second operation and 2 had a third surgical procedure. Of the horses treated by axial section of the displaced mucosa, 14 ran successfully without a respiratory sound or obstruction and 4 won races. In conclusion, using the hook knife inserted via the nasal passages offers a safe, relatively inexpensive and successful method of treating epiglottal entrapment.