Professional paper

Exercise induced upper airway dysfunction in horses

Agata Kučko
Nika Brkljača Bottegaro ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Darko Grden ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Jelena Gotić ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The upper airway begins with the nose and ends at the larynx. These narrow structures represent two critical airflow points. Impedance is a measure of how the airflow is opposed by the airway. Twofold tissue resistance is a result of any upper airway dynamic obstruction. Maximal oxygen uptake is 40 times the value at rest. The impedance increase caused by higher tissue resistance leads to hypoxia and hypercapnia, which significantly decrease performance. The most common dynamic upper airway obstructions are alar folds collapse, nasopharyngeal collapse, dorsal displacement and instability of the soft palate and laryngeal hemiplegia. Racing Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds under high-speed exercise have higher maximal oxygen uptake. Therefore, they are very sensitive to the minimal occurrence of even the slightest upper airway lesion. Detailed clinical examination should detect the cause of the decreased performance. When planning an upper airway surgical procedure, lesion severity, horse use and age, postoperative complications and possible outcomes should be considered.

Keywords

horse; upper airway; performance; hypoxia; dynamic obstruction

Hrčak ID:

229415

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/229415

Publication date:

10.12.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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