Long-term outcomes of dogs with W-shaped or traditional tracheal collapse treated with a continuous extraluminal tracheal prosthesis: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

To report the clinical characteristics of traditional (TTC) and W-shaped tracheal collapse (WTC) and the long-term outcomes of continuous extraluminal tracheal prosthesis (CETP) placement in dogs with grade IV tracheal collapse (TC).

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

ANIMALS: A total of 69 client-owned dogs.

METHODS

Medical records of dogs with grade IV TC, subclassified as TTC or WTC, treated using CETP between 2018 and 2021, were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical signs, diagnostic results, intraoperative findings, surgical complications, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 69 dogs, 45 had TTC and 24 had WTC. All were discharged after CETP placement. Preoperative stridor (p < .0001) and labored breathing (p = .0419) were more prevalent in patients with WTC than in those with TTC. The WTC group was 12.1 times more likely to require preoperative oxygen management than the TTC group (OR, 95% CI: 3.2-37.5). The 36-month postoperative survival rates were 75.7% and 90.9% in dogs with TTC and WTC, respectively. Postoperative laryngeal paralysis occurred in three dogs in the TTC group and two in the WTC group. Recurrent TC occurred in one dog in the TTC group and two in the WTC group. Seven of the eight dogs with postoperative complications required surgical intervention or intraluminal stent placement.

CONCLUSION

Although dogs with WTC showed more severe preoperative respiratory symptoms, their postoperative outcomes were comparable with those of dogs with TTC.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: CETP placement is a viable surgical treatment option for dogs with WTC, even those with severe respiratory symptoms.