title: The use of rigid endoscopy in the management of acute oropharyngeal stick injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of rigid endoscopy in the management of oropharyngeal stick injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of case records between 2011 and 2013 from a large referral hospital. Data regarding signalment, clinical presentation, treatment options and final outcomes were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine dogs were identified with acute oropharyngeal stick injuries. There were seven males and two females and the dogs were of various breeds, ages (1 · 5 to 9 years) and weights (11 · 9 to 38 · 4 kg). The time from injury to referral was between 1 and 3 days (median: 2 days). All dogs were anaesthetised and the tracts explored using a 30° forward-oblique, 2 · 7-mm-diameter, 18-cm-length rigid endoscope with corresponding 14 · 5 Fr sheath. The endoscopy was performed under saline irrigation. Foreign material (>1 mm in size) was removed using grasping forceps fed through the sheath. Subsequently, the tracts were re-inspected and flushed with further saline to confirm that all foreign material had been removed. All dogs recovered uneventfully and had excellent outcomes with no cases representing with chronic manifestations of oropharyngeal stick injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rigid endoscopy is an effective method for the diagnosis, assessment and, in certain cases, treatment of acute oropharyngeal stick injuries in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Willows Referral Service, Highlands Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 4NH.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shales
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000293:injuries*; D010614:Pharynx; D012189:Retrospective Studies