Arteries Of Gutteral Pouh

Guttural pouch mycosis is a fungal infection in the guttural pouch caused by a common fungi that most all horses carry.

Arteries of gutteral pouh.

Clinical signs of important guttural pouch diseases are referable to injury of specific nerves and arteries in the guttural pouch and acoustic system. The blood to the horse s brain is supplied by the occipital and vertebral arteries but also mainly by the. Some cases of pharyngeal hemiplegia can make a complete recovery althouhh it may take 12 to 18 months. It is caused by a fungus that infects the lining of the guttural pouch usually on the roof of the guttural pouch.

Guttural pouch mycosis is a rare but very serious disease in horses. The function of guttural pouches is largely unknown however hypotheses have been put forward. Fungal plaque is usually located in the medial guttural pouch near the internal carotid artery. The infection can cause some deep damage to the arteries and nerves.

Clinical signs include intermittent purulent nasal discharge painful swelling in the parotid area and in severe cases stiff head carriage and stertorous breathing. Cerebral blood cooling mechanism. The infection usually develops subsequent to a bacterial primarily streptococcus spp infection of the upper respiratory tract. Gpm is of unknown pathogenesis currently and no predisposing factors have been identified.

The capacity of guttural pouches in adult horses is 472 12 4 ml and the lateral compartment is approximately one third of the capacity of the medial compartment. The role played by the guttural pouches in the horse is still incompletely known but major advancements have been made by the works of baptiste and coworkers suggesting a major role of the guttural pouch in a brain cooling mechanism 8 9. Finally the internal carotid artery lies within the caudal wall of the medial compartment while the external carotid artery and maxillary artery are. Guttural pouch empyema is defined as the accumulation of purulent septic exudate in the guttural pouch.

Guttural pouch mycosis is a fungal infection of one or both guttural pouches. Only two of these survived of which one remained slightly dysphagic. Fungal plaques form within the guttural pouches most commonly along the walls of the major blood vessels internal carotid external carotid and maxillary arteries figure 3. It may influence internal carotid artery blood pressure.

The fungus has an affinity for growing on the surface of the guttural pouch overlying the nerves and arteries. Ligation of the internal carotid artery of the cardiac side of the lesion is an effective means of reducing the chance of fatal epistaxis in cases of guttural pouch mycosis.