Tracheal compression secondary to abscessation of cranial mediastinal lymph nodes in a horse.
Respiratory distress and laryngeal paralysis were found to be caused by a Streptococcus equi abscess of cranial mediastinal lymph nodes, putting pressure on the trachea at the thoracic inlet. Surgical drainage was required to relieve the compression, and long-term antibiotic therapy was used to treat the bacterial infection. The trachea returned to normal diameter but left laryngeal hemiplegia persisted. Peritracheal abscesses should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inspiratory dyspnea of the horse.
D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006736:Horses; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*