Nd:YAG Laser Treatment of a Vestibulovaginal Varicosity in a 15-Year-Old Pregnant Mare

Abstract 

A 15-year-old, pregnant Dutch Warmblood mare was exhibiting intermittent hemorrhage secondary to a large vestibulovaginal varicosity. The vessel was reduced with transendoscopic Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation. This technique is minimally invasive compared with traditional surgical ligation, and significantly decreases the risk of severe hemorrhage, especially with advancing pregnancy. One laser treatment resulted in complete reduction in vessel size and allowed the pregnancy to continue to term without incident or further vaginal hemorrhage.

Keywords: Equine, Vaginal, Varicosity, Laser, Bleeding