Differential diagnosis of epistaxis in the horse.

摘要

Epistaxis - bleeding from the nostrils - is a relatively common condition in the horse. Haemorrhage may originate from a number of locations, including the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, ethmoid labyrinth, guttural pouches or lungs. There are a number of potential causes of the condition, some of which are mild and self-limiting, and others, such as guttural pouch mycosis, which are potentially life threatening and require surgical intervention. This article discusses how to distinguish emergency from non-emergency cases, and describes a range of investigations that will help in establishing a diagnosis. It goes on to discuss treatment approaches for the most important causes of epistaxis.