Surgical treatment of jugular vein thrombosis

Venous hypertension resulting in facial edema due to thrombophlebitis of one or both jugular veins inables the horse to perform. Normally the advice is rest in an attempt to allow collateral venous drainage or recanalization to develop. In most patients the collateral veins and vertebral plexus will indeed be sufficient to guarantee an adequate venous drainage of the head. However, in some patients this is not the case. In these patients jugular vein reconstruction could be helpful in reducing the facial oedema and getting the horse back to work ...