Palatal sclerotherapy for the treatment of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate in 51 standardbred racehorses

• Published in: Canadian veterinary journal Vol. 52; no. 11; pp. 1203 - 1208
• Main Authors: Jean, Daniel, Picandet, Valerie, Céleste, Christophe, Macieira, Susana, Cesarini, Carla, Morisset, Sophie, Rossier, Yves, Marcoux, Marcel
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Canadian Veterinary Medical Association 01.11.2011
• Subjects: Animals; Female; Horse Diseases - pathology; Horse Diseases - therapy; Horse Diseases/pathology/therapy; Horses; Life sciences; Male; Médecine vétérinaire & santé animale; Palate, Soft - drug effects; Palate, Soft - pathology; Palate, Soft/drug effects/pathology; Physical Conditioning, Animal - physiology; Respiratory Sounds - veterinary; Retrospective Studies; Sciences du vivant; Scientific; Sclerotherapy - methods; Sclerotherapy - veterinary; Sclerotherapy/methods/veterinary; Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Veterinary medicine & animal health
• ISSN: 0008-5286

This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and side effects of palatal sclerotherapy in standardbred racehorses suspected to have intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (IDDSP). Fifty-one horses were treated with multiple endoscopically guided injections of 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate in the soft palate. Two groups were identified: those that had respiratory noises during exercise (n = 27) and those that did not (n = 24). Treatment was well-tolerated. Furthermore, horses significantly reduced their racing times for the last 400 m compared with their times before treatment and even when their times were compared to the mean times for horses in the same race. In conclusion, palatal sclerotherapy appears to be a suitable alternative therapeutic option for horses suspected to have IDDSP.