Proceedings of a Workshop on - The Havemeyer Foundation

Equine Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy
poor performance (33%), and abnormal
respiratory noises detected at a pre-purchase
veterinary examination (3%). The median preoperative
endoscopic grade <strong>of</strong> RLN was 2 (range
2–5), with 74 horses afflicted with left sided RLN
and one afflicted with right sided RLN. Twentynine
percent <strong>of</strong> horses had endoscopic evidence <strong>of</strong>
lower airway disease on resting endoscopy.
Complications <strong>of</strong> surgery: Sixty-two percent
<strong>of</strong> horses had no discharge from the laryngotomy
wound when the horse returned home, one week
post operatively. In 20% <strong>of</strong> horses, the discharge
had resolved by 2 weeks post operatively, and in
3% <strong>of</strong> horses the laryngotomy discharge persisted
for more than 4 weeks. Twenty-two percent <strong>of</strong>
horses coughed after surgery (Fig 1), <strong>of</strong> which
27% coughed whilst eating and the remainder
coughed at times unassociated with eating. Sixtysix
percent <strong>of</strong> horses did not make abnormal
noises post operatively (Fig 2). Nine percent
continued to make abnormal noise at the canter,
21% made noises at the gallop, and 4% <strong>of</strong> owners
were unsure if abnormal noises were present. Of
the 23 horses which made abnormal noises at
exercise post operatively, 19 returned to full work
regardless, and 6 were diagnosed with other
disorders in the year post-operatively including 3
with dorsal displacement <strong>of</strong> the s<strong>of</strong>t palate, one
with facial paralysis, one with pulmonary disease
and one false nostril atheroma.
Post operative performance: Ninety-three
percent <strong>of</strong> horses returned to full work after
% horses affected
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
VC
LP
% horses affected
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
VC
LP
0
No cough