title: Update on diseases and treatment of the pharynx.
abstract: This article reviews dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) and nasopharyngeal cicatrix. Palatial instability results in exercise intolerance and upper respiratory noise in performance horses. Palatial instability can progress to DDSP either permanently or only during exercise. There have been advancements related to the etiopathogensis, diagnosis, and treatment of DDSP. The laryngeal tie-forward has gained popularity and is the most widely accepted treatment option for this condition, either alone or in combination with other procedures. Nasopharyngeal cicatrix affects a small geographic region. Diagnosis is definitively made via endoscopy. The most effective treatment of this condition is a permanent tracheostomy.
authors.affiliation: Equine Comprehensive Wellness, 118 Camino Los Abuelos, Santa Fe, NM 87508, USA. Electronic address: berkleychesen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A Berkley
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Chesen
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Canaan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whitfield-Cargile
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Dorsal displacement of the soft palate; Exercise intolerance; Laryngeal tie-forward; Nasopharyngeal cicatrix; Palatial instability; Permanent tracheostomy; Pharynx