Partial arytenoidectomy in 14 standing horses (2013-2017).
Authors: Gray Sarah M, Gutierrez-Nibeyro Santiago D, Secor Erica J
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Partial Arytenoidectomy in Standing Horses Recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) remains a significant performance-limiting condition in horses, with prosthetic laryngoplasty failures requiring alternative interventions. Gray and colleagues reviewed 14 adult horses undergoing unilateral partial arytenoidectomy between 2013 and 2017, performed whilst standing under sedation and local anaesthesia—a technically challenging approach designed to avoid general anaesthetic risks in compromised airway cases. All 14 procedures were completed successfully without mucosal closure; follow-up data from 12 horses showed nine returned to athletic work without respiratory noise, two resumed exercise with substantially reduced noise, and one functioned adequately as a broodmare, though post-operative granuloma formation occurred in three cases, necessitating permanent tracheostomy in two. For practitioners managing RLN—particularly those with horses unsuitable for general anaesthesia or facing prosthetic failure—this technique offers a viable standing alternative that delivers functional airway improvement for most horses, though careful post-operative monitoring for granulation tissue development and realistic expectations about complete noise resolution are essential.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Partial arytenoidectomy under standing sedation and local anesthesia is a viable alternative to general anesthesia for RLN cases, particularly those with failed laryngoplasty
- •Success rate is high (64-75% return to work without noise), but monitor for postoperative granuloma formation which may require tracheostomy in some cases
- •This technique eliminates anesthetic risk for horses that may be poor candidates for general anesthesia due to age, fitness level, or comorbidities
Key Findings
- •Partial arytenoidectomy was successfully completed in all 14 standing sedated horses without general anesthesia
- •9 of 12 horses with long-term follow-up returned to athletic use without respiratory noise
- •3 horses developed postoperative granulomas, with 2 requiring permanent tracheostomy
- •Procedure avoids risks associated with general anesthesia in horses with RLN