Outcome of permanent tracheostomy for treatment of upper airway obstruction in cats: 21 cases (1990-2007).
OBJECTIVE
To determine clinical outcome of permanent tracheostomy in cats with upper airway obstruction.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
21 cats.


METHODS
Medical records were reviewed for information on history, signalment, clinical signs, results of preoperative clinicopathologic testing, cause of upper airway obstruction, surgical procedure, postoperative complications, and outcome.


RESULTS
Causes of upper airway obstruction included neoplasia (squamous cell carcinoma [n = 6] or malignant lymphoma [2]), inflammatory laryngeal disease (5), laryngeal paralysis (4), trauma (3), and a laryngeal mass of unknown cause (1). Fourteen cats had dyspnea in the immediate postoperative period; dyspnea most often resulted from mucous plugs at the stoma or elsewhere in the respiratory tract. Eleven cats died, including 6 cats that died while hospitalized after surgery and 5 cats that died after discharge; 7 cats were euthanatized, most often because of progression of neoplasia; and 2 were still alive at the time of the study. The remaining cat was lost to follow-up after discharge from the hospital. Overall, median survival time for the 20 cats for which information was available was 20.5 days (range, 1 day to 5 years). Cats that underwent permanent tracheostomy because of inflammatory laryngeal disease were 6.61 times as likely to die as cats that underwent permanent tracheostomy for any other reason.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated that permanent tracheostomy was an uncommon procedure in cats with upper airway obstruction that was associated with high complication and mortality rates.
Stepnik
Matthew W
MW
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.
Mehl
Margo L
ML
Hardie
Elizabeth M
EM
Kass
Philip H
PH
Reimer
S Brent
SB
Campbell
Bonnie G
BG
Mison
Michael B
MB
Schmiedt
Chad W
CW
Gregory
Clare R
CR
Hobson
H Phil
HP
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome