Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat having trouble breathing due to tracheal collapse - stent helped
By Tanaka, Masashi & Uemura, Akiko·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2022·Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Self-expanding tracheal stent placement in a cat with primary tracheal collapse.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old mixed-breed spayed female cat was having serious breathing problems, including open-mouthed breathing and a bluish tint to her gums. After tests like X-rays and a CT scan, she was diagnosed with primary tracheal collapse, which means her trachea was not holding its shape properly. The vet placed a special self-expanding stent in her trachea to help keep it open, and her breathing improved immediately after the procedure. While the long-term outlook is still being monitored, her short- to medium-term prognosis looks very promising.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · tracheal collapse treatment in cats · cat stent for breathing issues
Abstract
A 12-year-old mixed-breed spayed female cat presented with dyspnoea, open-mouthed breathing, and cyanosis that was difficult to control with medical pharmacotherapy; the cat was diagnosed with the primary tracheal collapse of the neck and chest regions. The diagnosis was confirmed by dynamic chest radiography, tracheal endoscopy, and computed tomography (CT). Tracheal endoscopy and CT showed dropsy of the dorsal membranous wall over most of the trachea. A self-expanding Nitinol cross-and-hook braided stent was placed along the entire tracheal lumen using surgical X-ray fluoroscopy. Bacterial cultures in the trachea were negative. Dyspnoea disappeared immediately after the endotracheal stent was implanted. Although the long-term prognosis remains under observation, the short- to medium-term prognosis was very good. These results suggest that stenting may be useful in the treatment of primary tracheal collapse in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35441501/