Congenital oesophageal stricture in anArabian filly treated by balloon dilation

Abstract

Congenital oesophageal stricture was diagnosed via endoscopy in a 3-day-old Arabian filly suffering from nasal milk regurgitation. Vascular ring anomaly or other extramural, intramural or intraluminal causes were not identified on radiographs or on a computed tomography scan; thus a functional abnormality was suspected. The filly was treated with antibiotics for aspiration pneumonia and was fed milk through an indwelling nasoesophageal tube. Two sessions of balloon bougienage at the stenotic site, under sedation, resulted in marked clinical improvement and thereafter the filly was gradually reintroduced to suckling from the mare. The filly was discharged from the hospital after 17 days and on follow-up there were no reports of food regurgitation even after the introduction of solid food. The filly was still doing well in the latest follow-up at age 11 months.

Endoscopic Balloon Dilation of Esophageal Strictures in 9 Horses

“…Those horses that received medical treatment (antibiotics, corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatories, and diet changes) had a poor survival rate, due mostly to recurrent esophageal obstruction and secondary aspiration pneumonia . Congenital strictures are infrequently described in the equine literature and the prevalence is unknown . In the current study only one foal was noted to have a intramural cyst presumed to be a congenital defect.…”

Milk regurgitation caused by oesophageal stricture in foals

“…The case reports by Berlin et al . () and Bezdekova et al . () focus on the diagnosis of congenital oesophageal stricture in 2 foals less than one month of age.…”

“…In the case presented by Berlin et al . () computed tomography (CT) was used as an additional diagnostic procedure once an oesophageal stricture was established. On first glance, the use of the CT may seem superfluous given that the underlying reason for the presenting complaint, milk regurgitation, had been established as an oesophageal stricture.…”

“…The case described by Berlin et al . () was a 3‐day‐old filly also presenting with milk regurgitation and subsequently diagnosed with oesophageal stricture and aspiration pneumonia. The initial endoscopy included only the larynx and pharynx.…”

“…In the case presented by Berlin et al . () the clinician used oxytocin (0.11 u/kg bwt i.v. q.12 h) and N‐butylscopolammonium (0.9 mg/kg bwt i.v.…”