Upper Airway Diseases


UPPER AIRWAY DISEASES IN HORSES

Horses are obligate nasal breathers

Areas of high resistance to airflow • Resistance is related to airway pressure differences

Lower pulmonary resistance =25% Upper airway resistance = 75% 37.5 % nasal 37.5% laryngeal

Upper Airway Disease Bernoulli's Principle

Dysphagia Regurgitation/aspiration Nasal exudate Coughing Exercise intolerance Respiratory noise!!! Common Diseases Aryteno-epiglottic entrapment (AEE) Laryngeal hemiplegia (Roar) Dorsal Displacement of Soft Palate

Envelopment of the apex and/or margins of the epiglottis * mucosa by the ventral epiglottic andaryteno-epiglottic mucosal folds.

Envelopment of the apex and/or margins of the epiglottis * mucosa by the ventral epiglottic andaryteno-epiglottic mucosal folds.

Respiratory noise that sounds like "roaring , 37 when exercised. • Horses with laryngeal hemiplegia have paralysis of the arytenoid cartilage.

The soft palate divides the oral cavity and the nasal cavity. The soft palate forms a seal so that food does not enter during swallowing. Normal During exercise it moves down and the airway opens up to maximize the amount of air to pass into the lungs.

1. History 2. Clinical Signs 3 X-rays 4 Endoscopy!!!

Treatment is based on the accuracy of diagnosis as more than one problem can be present at the time. • Treatment could be medical or surgical





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