WCVM resident presents at ACVS symposium

Dr. Jenny Kelly, a large animal resident at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, was one of the presenters at the American College of Veterinary Surgeons’ annual symposium in Washington, D.C., from Oct. 5-7.

Kelly, who is also the 2006-07 Fellow for the College’s Equine Health Research Fund, presented “A biomechanical comparison of different suture configurations in equine larynges” during the symposium’s residents forum on Friday, Oct. 6.

Kelly, along with Drs. Ryan Shoemaker, David Wilson, James Carmalt and Steve Hendrick, conducted a biomechanical study on more than 100 larynges from equine cadavers to determine the strongest pattern and placement of sutures used during the laryngoplasty procedure.

Laryngoplasty is the most common treatment for left laryngeal hemiplegia, or paralysis of one of the cartilage flaps at the opening of the larynx. The disease causes respiratory noise (often referred to as “roaring”) and limits performance in affected horses.

Support for the project and the scientists was provided by Novartis Animal Health and WCVM’s Equine Health Research Fund.