C E Judy1, M K Chaffin, N D Cohen. 1. Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify features of guttural pouch (auditory tube diverticulum) empyema in horses and compare findings of uncomplicated guttural pouch empyema with guttural pouch empyema complicated by chondroids. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 91 horses with guttural pouch empyema. PROCEDURE: Medical records of horses with guttural pouch empyema were reviewed. RESULTS: The most common owner complaint and abnormal finding was persistent nasal discharge. Chondroids were detected in 21% (19/91) of affected horses. Streptococcus equi was isolated from the guttural pouch in 14 of 44 horses; for Streptococcus spp, in vitro resistance to sulfadimethoxine and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was detected. Retropharyngeal swelling and pharyngeal narrowing were significantly more prevalent in horses with chondroids, compared with horses with uncomplicated empyema. Ninety-three percent of affected horses were discharged from the hospital; at time of discharge, 66% had complete resolution of disease, 19% had improvement without resolution, and 15% did not have improvement. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Horses with persistent nasal discharge should be examined endoscopically for guttural pouch empyema. Treatment with lavage offers a good prognosis for resolution of uncomplicated guttural pouch empyema. Aggressive treatment with lavage and endoscopic snare removal of chondroids offers a good prognosis and may make surgical intervention unnecessary.
OBJECTIVE: To identify features of guttural pouch (auditory tube diverticulum) empyema in horses and compare findings of uncomplicated guttural pouch empyema with guttural pouch empyema complicated by chondroids. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 91 horses with guttural pouch empyema. PROCEDURE: Medical records of horses with guttural pouch empyema were reviewed. RESULTS: The most common owner complaint and abnormal finding was persistent nasal discharge. Chondroids were detected in 21% (19/91) of affected horses. Streptococcus equi was isolated from the guttural pouch in 14 of 44 horses; for Streptococcus spp, in vitro resistance to sulfadimethoxine and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was detected. Retropharyngeal swelling and pharyngeal narrowing were significantly more prevalent in horses with chondroids, compared with horses with uncomplicated empyema. Ninety-three percent of affected horses were discharged from the hospital; at time of discharge, 66% had complete resolution of disease, 19% had improvement without resolution, and 15% did not have improvement. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Horses with persistent nasal discharge should be examined endoscopically for guttural pouch empyema. Treatment with lavage offers a good prognosis for resolution of uncomplicated guttural pouch empyema. Aggressive treatment with lavage and endoscopic snare removal of chondroids offers a good prognosis and may make surgical intervention unnecessary.
Authors: Drew W Koch; Jeremiah T Easley; Brad B Nelson; Jeremy J Delcambre; Erin G McCready; Eileen S Hackett Journal: J Vet Sci Date: 2018-11-30 Impact factor: 1.672