Transarterial Coil Embolization of the Internal and External Carotid and Maxillary Arteries for Prevention of Hemorrhage From Guttural Pouch Mycosis in Horses

• Published in: Veterinary surgery Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 389 - 397
• Main Authors: Léveillé, Renée, Hardy, Joanne, Robertson, James T., Willis, A. Michelle, Beard, Warren L., Weisbrode, Steven E., Lepage, Olivier M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Inc 01.09.2000
• Subjects: Angiography - veterinary; Animals; Carotid Artery, External; Carotid Artery, Internal; Embolization, Therapeutic - methods; Embolization, Therapeutic - veterinary; Epistaxis - etiology; Epistaxis - prevention & control; Epistaxis - veterinary; Female; Horse Diseases - etiology; Horse Diseases - prevention & control; Horse Diseases - therapy; Horses; Male; Maxillary Artery; Mycoses - complications; Mycoses - therapy; Mycoses - veterinary; Respiratory Tract Infections - complications; Respiratory Tract Infections - therapy; Respiratory Tract Infections - veterinary
• ISSN: 0161-3499; 1532-950X
• DOI: 10.1053/jvet.2000.7537

Objectives— To develop a transarterial coil embolization technique for occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery (ECA), and maxillary arteries (MA) in normal horses and to evaluate this technique for prevention of hemorrhage in horses affected with guttural pouch mycosis. Animals— Ten adult, normal horses and 4 horses with guttural pouch mycosis. Methods— All horses had transarterial coil embolization of the rostral and caudal ICA, caudal MA, and rostral ECA. In 1 affected horse, an aberrant actively bleeding branch of the ECA was also occluded. Normal horses had a premortem angiogram, and were killed either at 1 or 2 weeks or 1, 2, or 3 months after the procedure. Specimens from the ICA, ECA and MA were evaluated by light microscopy. Results— No surgical complications were observed, except 1 horse that developed laryngeal hemiplegia and 1 pilot horse that had embolization of the cerebral arterial circle. In normal horses, premortem angiography confirmed complete occlusion of all vessels, and coils were positioned as intended. All normal horses had partially maturing to mature, continuous thrombi occluding at the coils. In affected horses, no further episodes of epistaxis were observed. By day 60, all mycotic plaques had resolved without further treatment. Ophthalmic complications were not observed. Conclusion— Transarterial embolization provided a safe, rapid, and effective method for ICA, ECA, and MA occlusion in normal and affected horses. In affected horses, the technique was possible despite active bleeding, allowing adequate identification and occlusion of all sources of hemorrhage.