Obstrução esofágica em 6 equinos com o uso da esofagoscopia como método diagnóstico e respectivos tratamentos : relato de caso

Abstract

The most common esophageal disorders in horses are obstructive, resulting from intraluminal compaction by bulky food, ration, foreign body, or from preexisting injuries such as external compression, megaesophagus, diverticulum, and stenosis. In this study 6 cases of esophageal obstruction were described in horses, demonstrating the clinical aspects, the causes and complications observed in them. All the animals presented clinical signs characteristic of esophageal obstruction and the diagnosis was based on the findings of esophagoscopy and difficulty in the passage of the nasogastric tube. Only 1 animal was responsive to clinical treatment, another 4 underwent surgical procedure, and 1 was euthanized. Only 2 of the treated animals survived without complications, while the other 3 presented complications due to the prolonged obstruction time, such as stenosis in 1, suture dehiscence in 2 cases, and death during the surgical procedure in 1 of the cases . This demonstrates that cases of esophageal obstruction should be treated as a veterinary emergency because the pressure of the obstructive material on the esophageal mucosa causes extensive lesions that can lead to ulcerative and necrotic pictures.