Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery to fix a broken windpipe in a mallard duck
By Adair, Jordan E & Riggs, Gary L·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2022·NorthCoast Bird and Exotic Specialty Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Surgical Repair of a Complete Transverse Tracheal Rupture in a Mallard Duck ().
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A male mallard duck was brought in for sudden breathing problems that got better when he rested. The vet found a 1-centimeter tear in his trachea (the windpipe) using X-rays, even though there was no sign of injury. The vet performed surgery to fix the tear by reconnecting the trachea without removing any parts. Two months later, a follow-up exam showed that the area healed well, although there was a slight narrowing in the trachea.
People also search for: duck breathing problems · mallard duck trachea surgery · duck respiratory distress treatment
Abstract
An adult male mallard duck () of unknown age was presented for acute intermittent respiratory distress that resolved when at rest. The duck had no history or evidence of trauma and had never been intubated. Radiographic imaging revealed a 1-cm tracheal defect at the level of the sixth vertebra. Surgical correction of the defect was pursued, during which a complete transverse tracheal rupture of unknown origin was identified. The separated tracheal sections were successfully anastomosed without resection of any tracheal rings. Tracheoscopy performed 2 months after the surgical procedure revealed healthy mucosa at the anastomosis site with a slight narrowing of the tracheal lumen.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35142170/