A novel approach for palatal cyst ablation in a horse.

Summary: An 18‐month‐old Welsh Cob was referred to a university teaching hospital for investigation of abnormal respiratory noise at rest. Video‐endoscopy revealed persistent displacement of the soft palate with bilateral 2–3 cm diameter raised areas on either side of the midline. Neither trans‐nasal nor oral approaches allowed sufficient visualisation of the caudal soft palate for diagnosis or treatment. Latero‐lateral radiographs showed a blunted, thickened caudal edge of the soft palate consistent with a palatal cyst. Two palatal cysts were thermally ablated with a transendoscopic diode laser via temporary tracheotomy. The horse recovered uneventfully and resolution of the displacement was evident on follow‐up endoscopy 11 months later. This report documents a novel surgical approach to the caudal aspect of the soft palate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]