Foundation Equine Upper Airway

Question 1

where is the greatest flow resistance?

Answer 1

nasal passages
larynx

Question 2

what is airway resistance mainly determined by?

Answer 2

airway diameter

Question 3

what is the pharynx composed of?

Answer 3

nasopharynx
oropharynx
laryngopharynx

Question 4

what is the havemeyer grading scale for?

Answer 4

upper airway function: arytenoid and larynx movement

Question 5

how common is dorsal displacement of the soft palate?

Answer 5

10-20% of 2-3 year old racehorses

Question 6

what is the best surgical treatment for dorsal displacement of the soft palate?

Answer 6

correct anatomical abnormalities and tie-forward with partial bilateral resection of sternothyroideus tendon/muscle

Question 7

what is staphylectomy?

Answer 7

partial soft palate resection

Question 8

what is a standard myectomy?

Answer 8

partial transection of sternohyoideus and sternothyroideus

Question 9

what is the goal of a laryngeal tie-forward?

Answer 9

replace action of thyroideus muscle by sutures placed between thyroid cartilage and basihyoid bone

Question 10

what is the epiglottis entrapped in with epiglottic entrapment?

Answer 10

aryepiglottic fold

Question 11

what are the clinical signs of epiglottic entrapment?

Answer 11

exercise intolerance
inspiratory noise

Question 12

what happens in recurrent laryngeal neuropathy?

Answer 12

muscle paralysis from progressive loss of large myelinated axons

Question 13

what are the clinical signs of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy?

Answer 13

inspiratory noise
exercise intolerance

Question 14

what is the most common etiology of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy?

Answer 14

unknown

Question 15

which head positions increase inspiratory impedance?

Answer 15

flexed head and neck positions

Question 16

what do muscles extrinsic to the nasopharynx affect?

Answer 16

position of basihyoid bone and/or larynx
probably morphology of nasopharynx by changes to oropharynx

Question 17

what are the options for the havemeyer grading scale?

Answer 17

grade I
grade II
grade III
grade IV

Question 18

what are the clinical signs of dorsal displacement of the soft palate?

Answer 18

exercise intolerance
expiratory noise
bruising of roof of nasopharynx
open-mouth breathing

Question 19

what is the medical treatment for dorsal displacement of the soft palate?

Answer 19

dexamethasone
topical anti-inflammatory solution
condition if unfit
tack changes to elevate head
figure of 8 nose band or tongue-tie

Question 20

what is an indication for a staphylectomy for dorsal displacement of the soft palate?

Answer 20

granuloma or mass at free edge of soft palate or after tie-forward

Question 21

what is an indication for laser staphylectomy for dorsal displacement of the soft palate?

Answer 21

after tie-forward to permit epiglottis to be repositioned dorsal to soft palate after swallowing

Question 22

what is the goal of a standard myectomy?

Answer 22

reduce caudal retraction of larynx

Question 23

what is the epiglottis entrapped in in epiglottic entrapment?

Answer 23

aryepiglottic fold

Question 24

what is the post-operative plan for epiglottic entrapment?

Answer 24

anti-inflammatories
dexamethasone
topical pharyngeal spray
rest for 4 weeks

Question 25

which muscle abducts the arytenoid?

Answer 25

cricoarytenoideus dorsalis

Question 26

what does a prosthetic laryngoplasty do?

Answer 26

maintains affected arytenoid in open and fixed position
for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy

Question 27

what does a ventriculocordectomy do for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy?

Answer 27

removes cord/saccule of affected side

Question 28

what are the chronic complications of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy?

Answer 28

persistent coughing
chronic airway contamination/inflammation and infection
suture pullout, progressive loss abduction

Question 29

what is larygneal reinnervation in recurrent laryngeal neuropathy?

Answer 29

nerve-implantation into affected cricoarytenoid dorsalis muscle