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Published on: October 13, 2017
Endoscopic examination of the nasolacrimal duct in ten horses
A Spadari1, G Spinella, A Grandis
1Veterinary Clinical Department, University of Bologna, Italy.
Reasons For Performing Study:
No endoscopic examination of the nasolacrimal duct has been described before. In contrast with other imaging techniques, endoscopy provides a direct inspection of the intralumen and ductal mucosa in standing sedation.
Objectives:
To provide a reference against which the endoscopic and clinical features of obstructive nasolacrimal disease in the horse may be compared.
Methods:
Endoscopic examination of the nasolacrimal duct was performed in 10 French Thoroughbred bay mares with a 3 mm shaft diameter flexible fibrescope. The duct was divided into 3 zones (1, 2 and 3) from the nostril to the lacrimal sac.
Results:
Endoscopic examination of the nasolacrimal duct appeared to be quite easy to perform in Zones 1 and 2, while the ease or difficulty of examining Zone 3 depended on the weight and size of the horse for the position of the endoscope in the lacrimal canal.
Conclusions:
Endoscopic inspection has provided the possibility of a novel diagnostic approach to conditions of the nasolacrimal duct in horses.
Potential Relevance:
Endoscopic examination of the nasolacrimal duct could help to diagnose and treat nasolacrimal diseases by performing sample withdrawal and duct irrigation.
