Transnasal, laser‐assisted endoscopic removal of a metallic foreign body within the nasopharynx of a horse
Authors: Blanc E., O'Neill H. D.
Journal: Equine Veterinary Education
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Transnasal Laser-Assisted Removal of Nasopharyngeal Foreign Body in a Pony Metallic foreign bodies lodged in the nasopharynx present significant diagnostic and surgical challenges in equine practice, yet minimally invasive removal options remain underexplored in the literature. Blanc and O'Neill's case report describes successful management of such a case using standing computed tomography for precise pre-operative localisation, followed by transnasal endoscopic removal assisted by laser technology—all performed as a standing procedure without general anaesthesia. The pony was discharged within 24 hours, with endoscopic follow-up at 4 weeks showing satisfactory healing and minor granulation tissue that had completely resolved by 10 weeks, coinciding with the animal's return to normal work. This approach meaningfully expands the surgical toolkit available for foreign body removal in the equine head and neck region, particularly where traditional open approaches may be contraindicated or unnecessarily invasive. The findings underscore the critical value of pre-operative standing CT imaging in treatment planning and suggest that laser-assisted endoscopic techniques warrant consideration as a first-line minimally invasive strategy in comparable clinical scenarios.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Standing CT should be considered the gold standard for pre-operative planning of head/upper cervical foreign bodies in horses—it provides critical anatomical detail that radiography cannot match
- •Transnasal endoscopic laser removal under standing sedation is a viable minimally-invasive option for nasopharyngeal foreign bodies, avoiding general anaesthesia risks
- •Expect rapid return to function: this pony was fully healed and in normal work within 10 weeks, suggesting excellent outcomes are achievable with appropriate technique
Key Findings
- •Standing CT imaging provided superior pre-operative localization compared to radiography alone for nasopharyngeal foreign body planning
- •Transnasal laser-assisted endoscopic removal under standing sedation successfully removed the metallic object with complete healing by 10 weeks post-operative
- •Pony returned to normal management and exercise with no reported complications