Vol. 9, Special Issue 6, Part D (2024)

Author(s): S Rajasekar, HS Mahesha, T Jeyentra Balaji, D Srinivas and J Vasandhan

Abstract: A 3-year-old thoroughbred racehorse was presented to the madras race club equine Hospital with complaints including exercise intolerance, loss of racing performance, abnormal respiratory noise, and coughing. An endoscopic examination revealed dorsally displaced subepiglottic mucosa with mild ulceration and edema. Using an oral approach, an axial division of the aryepiglottic fold was performed to correct the entrapment of the epiglottis in the sedated horse, with a hooked bistoury knife and topical anesthesia. The surgical procedure was relatively simple, requiring minimal instrumentation. The horse was rested for an average of 6 days before resuming race training or riding. After the transoral surgery, no significant epiglottal entrapment was observed on endoscopy during the racing journey. A therapeutic regimen combining analgesics, neurotonics, and antibiotics resulted in a successful recovery