Surgical treatment of tracheal collapse in dogs: 90 cases (1983-1993).
OBJECTIVE
To determine factors associated with long-term outcome in dogs with tracheal collapse treated with extraluminal polypropylene C-shaped stents.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
90 dogs.


METHODS
Medical records of dogs with surgically treated tracheal collapse were reviewed. Follow-up was obtained either by recheck at the veterinary teaching hospital only (n = 10) or by telephone interviews with referring veterinarians and owners (n = 35), referring veterinarians alone (n = 23), or owners alone (n = 16). The chi 2 test was used to determine which factors were associated with long-term outcome.


RESULTS
11 breeds were represented. Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles, and Pomeranians were most common. Median age at the time of surgery was 6.8 years. Median weight was 2.9 kg. Severity of collapse ranged from grade II to grade IV. Dogs < 6 years old had more severe collapse than did dogs > or = 6 years old. Dogs > or = years old had more postoperative complications and a poorer longterm outcome than did dogs < 6 years old. 17 dogs required permanent tracheostomy, 10 within 24 hours after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical placement of extraluminal polypropylene C-shaped stents was an effective method of attenuating clinical signs of tracheal collapse. Dogs < 6 years old had more severe tracheal collapse but did better after surgery than did dogs > or = 6 years old.
Buback
J L
JL
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, USA.
Boothe
H W
HW
Hobson
H P
HP
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D008297:Male; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000662:veterinary*; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011126:Polypropylenes