Treatment in the field of 27 horses with epiglottic entrapment.
Authors: Russell T, Wainscott M
Journal: The Veterinary record
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Epiglottic Entrapment Treatment Outcomes Russell and Wainscott's 2007 field study evaluated an oral, hand-assisted bistoury knife technique for surgical correction of epiglottic entrapment in 27 racing horses treated under general anaesthesia. Of the 27 cases, 26 horses successfully returned to racing, though one developed a persistent dorsal displacement of the soft palate—a notable complication given that both conditions can coexist and present diagnostic challenges. Post-operative handicap ratings showed mixed results, with 13 horses improving their rating and 13 either maintaining or declining in performance classification, suggesting variable functional outcomes despite high surgical success rates. For practitioners involved in upper airway assessment and management, this highlights both the viability of field-based surgical intervention and the importance of thorough post-operative evaluation, particularly screening for concurrent soft palate pathology that may mask apparent treatment failure or account for suboptimal racing performance in otherwise successfully corrected epiglottic cases.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Oral hand-assisted bistoury knife technique under general anaesthesia is an effective treatment for epiglottic entrapment with high success rates for return to racing
- •Surgeons should be aware of soft palate displacement as a potential complication, occurring in approximately 4% of cases in this series
- •Post-operative racing performance is variable; improved handicap ratings in half the horses suggest individual factors beyond the surgical correction may influence outcomes
Key Findings
- •26 of 27 horses (96%) successfully returned to racing following oral hand-assisted bistoury knife technique under general anaesthesia
- •1 horse developed permanently displaced soft palate as a post-operative complication
- •Post-operative handicap ratings changed in 26 horses, with 13 improving and 13 declining