Overground Endoscopy: Has It Changed Our Thinking?

Periodically there are innovations in veterinary medicine that allow a giant leap forward in the science, understanding and treatment of disease. The introduction of overground endoscopy is just one of those innovations and represents one of the most exciting developments in recent years. The equipment, of which there are a number of versions, allows the acquisition of images of the equine pharynx and larynx under normal exercise conditions and does not require the use of a high-speed treadmill.

Resting endoscopy often has limited value in determining the cause of upper respiratory tract obstruction since it is unable to accurately predict dynamic findings (Rakestraw et al. 1991; Kannegieter and Dore 1995; Tan et al. 2005; Lane et al. 2006b). The frequency of complex combinations of upper respiratory tract conditions further highlights the importance of dynamic respiratory tract evaluation (Lane et al. 2006a). Until recently, this was best performed using a high-speed treadmill. [...]