The Effect of Topical Oxygen Therapy in Horses Affected with Mycosis of the Guttural Pouch: An Experimental Pilot Study and a Case Series.
Authors: Lepage Olivier M, Di Francesco Paola, Moulin Nicolas, Gangl Monika, Texier Gaëtan, Marchi Joffrey, Cadoré Jean-Luc
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Topical Oxygen Therapy for Guttural Pouch Mycosis Guttural pouch mycosis remains a challenging condition in equine practice, with variable resolution of inflammatory lesions and inconsistent recovery from associated neurological complications such as dysphagia and laryngeal hemiparesis. Researchers conducted a two-phase investigation combining an experimental pilot study in induced disease with a retrospective case series of six naturally affected horses, administering topical oxygen therapy (TOT) either as monotherapy or alongside transarterial coil embolization (TACE), and documenting endoscopic changes and clinical outcomes over the initial 10 days post-treatment. In the experimental phase, TOT proved safe and straightforward to deliver in standing horses, with inflammatory lesions reducing more rapidly in treated guttural pouches after multiple sessions; in the clinical cases, endoscopic examination revealed macroscopic lesion size reduction and altered appearance within 2–10 days, whilst nasal discharge resolved in three horses and improved in a fourth, with partial or complete neurological recovery documented in four of seven affected presentations. Although the small sample sizes precluded statistical significance and variable clinical presentations complicated direct comparison, the consistent feasibility, safety profile and apparent acceleration of inflammatory resolution suggest TOT warrants further investigation as an adjunctive therapy—potentially offering equine clinicians a non-invasive tool to support conventional guttural pouch mycosis management and enhance neurological prognosis. The next logical steps would involve larger prospective studies with standardised protocols to determine optimal oxygen delivery parameters and identify which cases benefit most from TOT integration.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •TOT is a safe, non-invasive adjunctive therapy for guttural pouch mycosis that can be performed easily in standing horses and shows promise for resolving inflammatory lesions and associated neurological complications
- •Consider TOT as a complementary treatment option alongside or after conventional therapies like transarterial coil embolization, particularly when managing refractory inflammatory lesions or neurological signs
- •The technique requires minimal equipment (oxygen source, delivery tubing) and takes 30-60 minutes per session, making it practical for field or hospital use in equine practice
Key Findings
- •Topical oxygen therapy (TOT) was feasible and safe to administer in standing horses with guttural pouch mycosis using 30-100 min sessions of medical oxygen at 9-15 L/min
- •Macroscopic inflammatory lesions decreased more rapidly in treated guttural pouches after two or more TOT sessions in the experimental phase
- •In the clinical phase, TOT alone or combined with transarterial coil embolization resulted in resolution of nasal discharge in 3/4 horses and partial or total recovery of neurological disorders in 7/12 cases
- •No adverse local or systemic effects were observed with TOT administration