Surgical treatment of septic jugular thrombophlebitis in nine horses.

Summary

# Septic Jugular Thrombophlebitis: Surgical Management of Refractory Cases When septic jugular thrombophlebitis fails to resolve with medical treatment alone, surgical intervention becomes necessary to prevent life-threatening complications and restore vascular function. Russell and colleagues present a straightforward jugular vein thrombectomy technique performed under standing sedation and local anesthesia, whereby affected vein segments are opened via multiple incisions and their thrombotic contents manually removed, with incisions deliberately left open to drain and heal by secondary intention. Across nine horses with medically refractory disease, the procedure proved curative in all cases, though two animals required a second procedure and one needed linguofacial vein ligation to manage postoperative haemorrhage. The accessibility of this technique—requiring no general anaesthesia and demonstrating minimal postoperative complications—makes it a practical option for equine practitioners managing cases unresponsive to antibiotics and supportive care. For veterinarians and referral centres regularly encountering this condition, this approach offers a cost-effective, expedient solution that restores normal vascular drainage and prevents the systemic consequences of chronic septic thrombosis.

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Key Findings

• •Jugular vein thrombectomy via multiple incisions was curative in all 9 cases, though 2 horses required a second procedure
• •One horse required ligation of the linguofacial vein to manage postsurgical hemorrhage
• •The technique achieved resolution in cases unresponsive to medical management with minimal postoperative complications

Conditions Studied