Comparing two surgeries for dog laryngeal paralysis outcomes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the immediate and short-term outcomes of thyroarytenoid lateralization (TAL) and cricoarytenoid lateralization (CAL) for the treatment of canine laryngeal paralysis in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, clinical trial. ANIMALS: Fourteen client-owned dogs referred to our hospital because of bilateral laryngeal paralysis. METHODS: Dogs with confirmed laryngeal paralysis were randomly assigned to the CAL or TAL group. Video images of the rima glottidis obtained preoperatively, immediately postoperatively (t0), and 15&#x2009;days postoperatively (t1) were digitized. The rima glottidis area was measured using image-analysis software. An increase in the rima glottidis area was expressed as a percentage of the preoperative area. RESULTS: The rima glottidis area increased by a mean of 152% at t0 and 127% at t1 for the TAL group and 205% at t0 and 199% at t1 for the CAL group compared with preoperative values. The increase in the rima glottidis area differed (P < .05) between the 2 groups at all postoperative time points. A reduction of the area occurred at t1 in both groups. There was no difference between t0 and t1 (P > .05) in the CAL group but there was a large difference (P < .05) in the TAL group. CONCLUSION: Cricoarytenoid lateralization and TAL were both effective for surgical abduction of the arytenoid cartilage. Although a reduction (P < .05) in the rima glottidis area occurred in the TAL group at t1, we observed no associated clinical signs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Cricoarytenoid lateralization and TAL result in good short-term outcomes in dogs with laryngeal paralysis.