Standing diverticulectomy for treatment of a pulsion oesophageal diverticulum in a horse

Summary

A 7‐year‐old Quarter Horse gelding was presented for evaluation and treatment of a pulsion oesophageal diverticulum diagnosed 8 months earlier following repeated episodes of oesophageal obstruction. Diagnostic imaging—including cervical radiographs, ultrasound and endoscopy—was used to diagnose and evaluate the lesion and guide surgical planning. A diverticulectomy was successfully performed under standing sedation. The horse was able to be gradually reintroduced to hay beginning at 5 weeks post‐operatively, and owner follow‐up 1.5 years later revealed that the horse was eating hay with no further issues related to the oesophagus. Complications included mild leakage of feed material from the oesophageal repair immediately post‐operatively and left‐sided recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a pulsion oesophageal diverticulum successfully treated via a standing surgical repair in the horse.