Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Best tracheal stents for small dogs with collapse?
By Uemura A et al.·2026·Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Japan·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Mechanical characteristics of different braiding methods used in canine self-expanding tracheal stents.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Tracheal collapse is a common breathing problem in small dogs, and when medications don't help, a special type of stent can be used to keep the airway open. Researchers compared two types of these stents, one with a traditional cross-braided design and another with a cross-and-hook braided design, to see which one might work better. They found that the cross-and-hook stent was more flexible and better at maintaining its shape under pressure, which could help it last longer without breaking. Overall, the cross-and-hook braided stent showed promise for improving treatment outcomes for dogs with tracheal collapse.
Abstract
<h4>Importance</h4>Tracheal collapse is a common respiratory disorder in small-breed dogs. Endoluminal stenting has become an important minimally invasive treatment option, particularly when medical management fails. Nevertheless, stent fracture remains a major postoperative complication, prompting the development of stents with alternative braided structures to improve durability and mechanical performance.<h4>Objective</h4>This study compared the mechanical properties of two self-expanding nitinol tracheal stents with different braided patterns-a conventional cross-braided design and a cross-and-hook braided design-to assess their mechanical characteristics and potential suitability for use in dogs.<h4>Methods</h4>Mechanical testing was performed on two commercial veterinary tracheal stents: a cross-braided stent and a cross-and-hook braided stent (Fauna stent; M.I.TECH. Co. Ltd, Korea). The flexural stiffness was assessed using a three-point bending test, while the radial and axial mechanical strengths were evaluated using compression and tensile tests, respectively.<h4>Results</h4>The cross-and-hook braided stent showed greater bending flexibility and slightly higher radial stiffness than the cross-braided stent. Both stents showed comparable tensile resistance within the physiological deformation ranges. The cross-and-hook structure also retained its cell geometry under compression and resisted permanent deformation more effectively.<h4>Conclusions and relevance</h4>The cross-and-hook braided stent showed trends toward improved mechanical properties relevant to the clinical performance in dogs, with possible benefits in reducing stent fatigue and rupture. These findings highlight its potential suitability for managing tracheal collapse in dogs and may help guide future development of veterinary and human stents.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41663121