Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Long-term risks and outcomes for dogs with permanent tracheostomies
By Grimes, Janet A et al.Ā·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical AssociationĀ·2019Ā·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: Long-term outcome and risk factors associated with death or the need for revision surgery in dogs with permanent tracheostomies.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 69 dogs that had permanent tracheostomies (surgical openings in the windpipe) were studied to see how they fared over time. Many dogs faced complications, with common issues being aspiration pneumonia (a lung infection), skinfold occlusion (skin folds blocking the stoma), and stoma stenosis (narrowing of the opening). Brachycephalic breeds (like Bulldogs and Pugs) were more likely to need additional surgery. Overall, the dogs had a median survival time of about 5 years, but those with certain health issues or older age tended to live shorter lives. Despite the risks, a tracheostomy can be a helpful option for dogs with breathing problems.
People also search for: dog tracheostomy complications Ā· brachycephalic dog surgery risks Ā· aspiration pneumonia in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term outcomes and identify factors associated with death or the need for revision surgery in dogs with permanent tracheostomies (PTs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: 69 client-owned dogs that received a PT between January 2002 and June 2016 at 1 of 4 veterinary teaching hospitals. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed, and data extracted included signalment, history, clinical signs, radiographic and laryngeal examination findings, presence of esophageal abnormalities, date and reason for receiving a PT, postoperative complications, cause of death, and survival time. Dogs surviving < 2 weeks after receiving a PT were excluded. RESULTS: Major complications occurred in 42 of 69 (61%) dogs, with aspiration pneumonia (13 [19%]), skinfold occlusion (13 [19%]), and stoma stenosis (12 [17%]) being most common. Revision surgery was performed in 24 of 69 (35%) dogs, most commonly because of stoma stenosis or skinfold occlusion (9/24 [38%] each). Brachycephalic dogs were more likely (OR, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 10.2) to require revision surgery than were nonbrachycephalic dogs. The overall median survival time was 1,825 days, and dogs that received corticosteroids before receiving a PT, had tracheal collapse, or were older had shorter survival times. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of the present study indicated that creation of a PT was a viable treatment option for obstructive upper airway diseases in dogs and that long-term survival after receiving a PT was possible; however, a PT may not reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia in dogs.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30986161/