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Re: [RC] Need info on sialoliths - Susan Garlinghouse, DVMI've only seen one sialolith surgery performed, and that s'lith was situated pretty far down the parotid duct, about where the side cheek-ring would be situated on a halter's noseband. My understanding is that that's the most common site, and we (the 'we' used very loosely) removed it from an incision inside the mouth, with the horse standing and just sedated. I remember being told it could be removed through the outer cheek as well, and none of it seemed like that big a deal, and *I* certainly wouldn't hesitate to have it removed in one of my horses. If the s'lith is at the rear angle of the mandible (about where a throatlatch would rub), then yeah, there are a lot more things back there that can potentially get messed up if you cut in the wrong direction. I don't see a good surgeon going that far off base, speaking only as a non-surgeon. The salivary glands back there are pretty superficial, and the really critical structures (like the carotid artery) are at least several inches away. Whether that location would require general anesthesia, I don't know---none of my texts ever discussed s'liths back there. Personally, I still wouldn't be very perturbed about general anesthesia. I couldn't find any references to injecting formalin to kill the gland. Yes, it would kill the gland, but a hard lump would still remain. Given the tissue inflammation that formalin would cause (which would then lead to granulation scar tissue), you could presumably end up with a bigger lump than you have now, with potential tack-rubbing and cosmetic issues. If it were my horse, I'd just have that puppy cut outta there once and for all. The primary complication discussed is a fistula if the gland duct isn't closed up properly (a fistula is just kinda like a balloon forming from liquid that has nowhere else to go). So, just make sure the vet doing the procedure is a surgeon that knows that. :-) Good luck! Susan G, DVM ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alison Dunn" <alcritters@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 6:18 PM Subject: [RC] Need info on sialoliths I posted earlier about my horse Sorin having a 'calcified salivary gland'. It is really a calicification IN a salivary gland - called a sialolith. The only option I was presented with at first was surgery, where they had to put him totally out, with risk of complications in the gland afterwards if it leaked saliva into the surrounding tissue. There now seems to be another option. This vet said he could inject the gland with formalyne(sp?) to kill the gland so it would stop producing saliva. I presume this means the lump would quit growing. I suppose another combination would be to kill the gland, then do surgery, with less risk of complication afterward. This all became more urgent because last weekend it swelled up all around the lump and he acted really uncomfortable. The halter bothered him so much that I just looped a rope around his neck to lead him around, and didn't go on my ride. When I spoke with a local vet, she said to just give him bute whenever it swelled up. Someday I do want to compete again (long story) - so buting him regularly is not an option I'd like to pursue. Would some vets out there (or anyone) please post with your opinions or experience? I'm hauling to the specialist's clinic on Monday morning. I'd like more info to use in making a choice of options. _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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