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Dynamic evaluation of the equine upper respiratory tract
1Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, Massachusetts.
The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Equine Practice
|August 1, 1991
Summary
Diagnosing equine athletic performance issues requires evaluating upper respiratory function during exercise. Dynamic endoscopy during strenuous activity is crucial for identifying intermittent airway obstructions causing exercise intolerance.
Area of Science:
- Equine Sports Medicine
- Veterinary Internal Medicine
- Equine Surgery
Background:
- Suboptimal equine athletic performance necessitates a comprehensive diagnostic approach.
- Evaluating upper respiratory tract (URT) function during exercise is vital for diagnosing exercise intolerance.
- Resting endoscopic evaluation may not identify intermittent URT abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of dynamic upper respiratory endoscopy in diagnosing equine exercise intolerance.
- To highlight the limitations of resting endoscopy for intermittent URT abnormalities.
- To advocate for exercise-induced URT evaluation prior to treatment recommendations.
Main Methods:
- Clinical evaluation of dynamic upper respiratory tract function during treadmill exercise.
- Endoscopic observation of the upper airway under conditions simulating racing.
- Comprehensive performance evaluation including physical and clinical pathologic analysis.
Main Results:
- Dynamic endoscopy allows definitive diagnosis of upper airway dysfunction contributing to poor athletic performance.
- Identified diverse upper respiratory dysfunctions and their associated anatomical abnormalities.
- Demonstrated that resting endoscopy can miss intermittent obstructions like dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) and epiglottic entrapment (EE).
Conclusions:
- Dynamic upper respiratory endoscopy is essential for accurate diagnosis of exercise intolerance in equine athletes.
- This technique prevents unnecessary treatments for suspected but non-existent respiratory issues.
- Individualized treatment strategies based on precise diagnosis optimize surgical and managemental correction success.