Congenital triple oesophageal stricture and megaoesophagus in a neonatal colt

Abstract

Congenital oesophageal stenosis is rarely described in horses. This case report describes a neonatal colt with signs of a milky nasal discharge and cervical swelling present from birth. The diagnostic evaluation revealed a triple oesophageal stricture, identified as congenital fibromuscular oesophageal stenosis. A megaoesophagus was seen cranial to the strictures, but its aetiology remains unexplained. To the authors' knowledge, multiple oesophageal stenosis together with megaoesophagus has not previously been described in the horse.

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.…”

Balloon dilation to treat oesophageal strictures in five foals

“…), therefore contrast radiography may be required for definitive diagnosis, as in the report by Bezdekova et al . (). Classification of the type of stricture could have been confirmed by biopsy and histopathological examination of the oesophageal wall at the stricture site but this was not warranted for the cases described.…”

“…; Bezdekova et al . ). Foals may also develop acquired strictures, with gastric ulceration and reflux oesophagitis thought to be associated in many cases in neonatal foals (Murray et al .…”

Milk regurgitation caused by oesophageal stricture in foals

“…() and Bezdekova et al . () focus on the diagnosis of congenital oesophageal stricture in 2 foals less than one month of age. While the clinical presentation of these patients was similar, the individual nuances of the cases created 2 very different outcomes with one foal responding to noninvasive balloon dilation of the constriction and one foal that was subjected to euthanasia with multiple constrictions complicated by megaoesophagus.…”

“…In the case described by Bezdekova et al . () an 11‐day‐old colt was presented with milk regurgitation and was diagnosed with triple oesophageal stricture, megaoesophagus and aspiration pneumonia. The clinicians were initially able to pass a stomach tube in this case, indicating the strictures were not tight enough to completely preclude passage to the stomach.…”