Dynamic evaluation of the equine upper respiratory tract

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.