Guttural pouch tympany: 15 cases (1977-1986).

From 1977 to 1986, guttural pouch tympany was diagnosed in 15 horses--11 fillies and 4 colts. Review of the medical records provided results of physical, microbiologic, radiographic, and endoscopic examinations, treatment protocols, complications, and recovery rate. All affected horses had visible swelling in the parotid gland region, 9 had abnormal respiratory noise, 5 had pneumonia, and 1 had dysphagia. Six horses were treated by median septum fenestration alone, and in 8 horses, this procedure was combined with resection of the mucosal flap at the pharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube. One horse was not treated. Follow-up information was obtained for 13 horses. Rate of recurrence was 33% (2/6) after fenestration alone and was 29% (2/7) when both procedures were combined. One horse that had been treated using combined procedures died of pneumonia, and a horse treated unsuccessfully by septum fenestration was euthanatized because of persistent dysphagia. Eight horses greater than 2 years old when follow-up information was obtained were reported to be healthy, and 4 of these had raced successfully.