title: Tracheolaryngostomy as a treatment for laryngeal obstruction in cattle.
abstract: Inspiratory dyspnoea may be the result of chronic laryngeal obstruction or, rarely, because of tracheal collapse. Chronic laryngeal obstruction, as a result of necrobacillosis or infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, responds poorly to medical treatment. A tracheolaryngostomy technique under general anaesthesia is described with closure of the laryngotomy incision. Animals were selected for surgery following radiography and endoscopy. With a permanent cranial tracheostomy incision, calves could be managed easily by the farmer as a tracheotomy tube was found to be unnecessary 1 week after surgery once the postoperative swelling had subsided. The technique had a high success rate at 6 months follow-up. In animals with severe bronchopneumonia without laryngeal abscesses at endoscopy, tracheotomy and medical therapy with antibiotics and steroids may be successful. Chronic laryngeal obstruction is more common in double-muscled calves because of the anatomy of the upper airways, increasing laryngeal resistance to airflow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, South Wirral, UK.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D007830:Larynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*