The VideoMed remote dynamic endoscopic system enables rapid and accurate diagnosis of a plethora of upper respiratory conditionsRemote Dynamic Endoscopy
Local racehorse trainers and our other clients now have at their disposal the latest state-of-the-art system for the diagnosis and treatment of equine upper airway disease.
Following 18 months of field trialling a variety of remote endoscopic equipment to determine which is the most reliable and which produces the best image, we have replaced our original unit with the VideoMed remote dynamic endoscopic system. The excellent images it provides permit detailed post-exercise analysis to determine most accurately the causes of airway obstruction at fast exercise and we believe it to be by far the best and most advanced equipment available. Most significantly, it does not require the use of a high-speed treadmill, which prior to the advent of remote dynamic endoscopy was the only way to determine a diagnosis in such cases.
The equipment is light-weight, relatively unobtrusive and allows the use of the horse’s own tack, which makes it quick and easy to fit to the patient. We also consider the VideoMed system to be safer than other systems as the jockey does not need to wear a back pack - in fact exercise can be carried out in a routine manner. A telemetric control system allows accurate positioning of the endoscopic tip by remote control, even after exercise has commenced.
Powered by a xenon light source, the VetMed system allows the acquisition of high quality images and video sequences of the upper airway during fast exercise. The images are recorded by means of two integrated lap top computers and the software programme uniquely allows correction of the images to ensure maximum symmetry during image evaluation. This is invaluable in facilitating a rapid and accurate diagnosis of dorsal displacement of the soft palate, aryepiglottal fold impingement (pictured below) and a plethora of other well recognised (and less well recognised) conditions which may produce similar respiratory noises and are therefore typically difficult to differentiate by a traditional endoscopic examination.
Aryepiglottal fold impingementImportantly, this equipment may also be used to assess poor performance where additional mini-monitors can be attached to the tack, combining the airway assessment with simultaneous ECG and GPS documentation of speed, distance and gradient to provide a detailed cardiorespiratory assessment.
The VideoMed remote dynamic endoscopic system dramatically reduces the time required to make a diagnosis. This remote dynamic endoscopic system can be conveniently integrated into a horse’s daily exercise routine over the preferred canter or gallop. This should not only ensure more accurate diagnosis and treatment of upper respiratory problems but will also allow better post surgical evaluation of patients.
