Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat breathing after total laryngectomy for throat nerve tumor
By Vincenti, Simona et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2021·Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Total laryngectomy in a cat with a laryngeal peripheral nerve sheath tumor.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old female domestic shorthair cat was brought in for severe breathing problems caused by a tumor in her throat. After a biopsy confirmed it was a low-grade peripheral nerve sheath tumor, the veterinarian performed a total laryngectomy (removal of the voice box) and created a permanent opening in her neck for breathing. The surgery was successful, and the cat was able to breathe normally right after the procedure. Although she needed a minor follow-up surgery due to some tissue growth, she has been doing well and showed no signs of cancer returning 13 months later, enjoying a good quality of life.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · laryngeal tumor in cats · cat surgery recovery · total laryngectomy cat · cat tracheostomy care
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report the surgical technique and outcome of total laryngectomy in a single clinical case. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMAL: A 5-year-old female spayed domestic shorthair cat. METHODS: A cat presented for acute, severe respiratory distress caused by an invasive laryngeal mass. Incisional biopsy was indicative of sarcoma. Computed tomography of head, neck, and thorax was performed revealing no evidence of metastasis. A total laryngectomy and permanent tracheostomy were performed, and the cat could breathe without difficulties immediately postoperatively. Histopathology confirmed a laryngeal low-grade peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST). RESULTS: Surgical margins were free of tumor cells. Surgical revision of the tracheostomy stoma due to obstructive granulation tissue was necessary 24 days after the initial surgery. Nine days after revision surgery, the cat was discharged from the hospital. No evidence of local recurrence or metastasis was detected on repeat computed tomography of the head, neck, and thorax at 6 months, nor on chest radiographs at 12 months postoperatively. At the time of writing (13 months postoperatively), the cat is still alive with a good quality of life. CONCLUSION: Total laryngectomy with permanent tracheostomy allowed the complete removal of an obstructive laryngeal PNST and provided a good quality of life in a cat. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: To the authors' knowledge, this case report represents the first detailed description of the surgical procedure and clinical outcome for a total laryngectomy in a cat.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33914355/