Percutaneous ultrasound-guided arterial angiography for transarterial coil placement in anesthetized and standing horses.
Authors: Maninchedda Ugo, Lepage Olivier M, Gangl Monika, Benredouane Kossay
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary Guttural pouch mycosis remains a challenging condition to manage, with haemorrhage from damaged internal carotid arteries posing serious risks; this study evaluated whether ultrasound-guided arterial catheterisation could enable safer, less invasive treatment via transarterial coil embolisation. The research team developed a percutaneous technique for introducing angiographic catheters into the common carotid artery under ultrasound guidance, then assessed whether angiography could visualise the internal carotid artery within the guttural pouch and whether therapeutic coils could be successfully placed via this transarterial route. The technique proved feasible in both anesthetised and standing horses, with successful catheterisation and angiographic imaging achieved; transarterial coil placement was confirmed angiographically in all cases, representing a significant advance over traditional surgical approaches. For equine practitioners managing guttural pouch mycosis, this percutaneous ultrasound-guided method offers potential for reducing surgical morbidity and enabling treatment in horses where conventional surgery is contraindicated, though further work evaluating clinical outcomes and long-term safety is warranted before widespread adoption.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This ultrasound-guided technique offers a less invasive alternative to conventional surgical approaches for managing certain guttural pouch and carotid artery conditions in horses
- •The procedure can be performed in standing horses under sedation, reducing anesthetic risk and recovery time compared to general anesthesia
- •Veterinarians managing carotid artery hemorrhage or guttural pouch disease should be aware this interventional radiology option exists for appropriate cases
Key Findings
- •Ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheterization of the common carotid artery was successfully achieved in both anesthetized and standing horses
- •Transarterial angiography effectively visualized carotid artery anatomy in the guttural pouch region
- •Transarterial coil placement into the internal carotid artery was technically feasible using this minimally invasive approach