COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO THE INSERTION OF A SUTURE TO RETRACT THE ARYTENOID CARTILAGE TO CORRECT LARYNGEAL HEMIPLEGIA IN THE HORSE

Laryngeal sacculectomy has proven to be a useful surgical procedure to correct respiratory distress caused by paralysis of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. However, to improve the rate of recovery procedures for the insertion of a suture to retract the paralyzed arytenoid have been developed. This procedure was found to be accompanied by some serious complications such as a cough, delayed wound healing, regurgitation of food and aspiration pneumonia. To avoid these complications it is suggested that mersilene be used instead of lycra to suture the arytenoid to the cricoid as it is tolerated better by the horse. Tension upon the suture should be sufficient to stabilize the paralyzed arytenoid in a median position between adduction and abduction or one of slight abduction. Extreme care should be used when placing the suture to avoid invasion of the laryngeal airway.