Endoscopic, transoral, reduction of epiglottic entrapment via wire snare technique.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Transoral Endoscopic Repair of Epiglottic Entrapment Epiglottic entrapment—where redundant subepiglottic mucosa (the aryepiglottic fold) traps the epiglottis and obstructs the airway—has traditionally required more invasive surgical approaches, prompting investigation into less traumatic alternatives. Coleridge and colleagues evaluated a modified transoral technique in eight adult thoroughbred horses under general anaesthesia, whereby endoscopic visualisation guided the placement of a custom wire snare around the entrapping mucosa, allowing controlled excision of the redundant tissue whilst maintaining direct visualisation throughout. All eight horses showed complete resolution of entrapment on post-operative endoscopic examination, with no intra-operative or post-operative complications and no performance deficits reported in follow-up. This minimally invasive approach preserves normal laryngeal anatomy more effectively than historical techniques requiring more extensive mucosal resection or scar formation, whilst being technically straightforward and cost-effective to perform. For practitioners managing horses with suspected epiglottic entrapment—particularly those used for athletic competition where airway reserve is critical—this technique offers a viable option that delivers reliable anatomical correction with rapid return to function.

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Key Findings

• •Wire snare technique successfully reduced epiglottic entrapment in all 8 horses with no recurrence on follow-up endoscopy
• •No post-operative complications were observed and all horses returned to normal performance
• •Technique involves transoral endoscopic visualization with bronchoesophageal forceps to guide wire snare excision of redundant subepiglottic mucosa

Conditions Studied