When is overground endoscopy indicated and what can it tell us?

Abstract

The development of overground endoscopy is an exciting addition to the veterinary surgeon's arsenal when investigating dysfunction of the upper portion of the respiratory tract of the horse. The equipment, of which there are a number of versions, allows the operator to acquire real time images of the upper portion of the respiratory tract under normal exercising conditions. To date a large number of horses from all the common equestrian disciplines have been examined and an array of abnormalities have been detected. The equipment is safe, reliable and well tolerated. In addition to its use for the purpose of investigation and diagnosis of obstructive airway disease, overground endoscopy has allowed the clinician to review the efficacy of therapeutic interventions and take a critical, evidence-based approach to treatment of the many dynamic diseases that affect the equine upper airway. It would be reasonable to conclude that overground endoscopy is now the gold standard technique for investigation of horses with clinical signs of poor performance or abnormal respiratory noise, and that the knock on positive effect on equine welfare as a result of the introduction of the technique is significant.