Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Airway blockage from endotracheal cuff herniation in dogs
By Bergadano, A et al.·Published in Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde·2004·Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Two cases of intraoperative herniation of the endotracheal tube cuff.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two dogs experienced serious breathing problems during surgery due to a rare issue with their breathing tubes. This happened when the cuff of the endotracheal tube (the part that seals the airway) became damaged, leading to a lack of airflow and a drop in oxygen levels. Both dogs showed signs of distress within 6 to 8 minutes after the problem started. Fortunately, the situation improved quickly after the cuff was partially deflated, allowing them to breathe normally again. Proper monitoring and management of the cuff pressure during anesthesia can help prevent this dangerous complication.
People also search for: dog breathing problems during surgery · endotracheal tube issues in dogs · anesthesia complications in dogs
Abstract
During anaesthesia for elective procedures, 2 dogs developed acute airway obstruction caused by herniation of the endotracheal cuff. This is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication especially when minimal monitoring of the patient leads to late recognition of the condition. The most typical symptoms are decreased thoracic excursions and tidal volume, absence of gas flow through the endotracheal tube, change in the capnographic waves morphology and increased airway pressures. In both cases desaturation of haemoglobin (measured by pulse oximetry) occurred in-between 6 and 8 minutes after cuff herniation. All signs normalised following partial deflation of the cuff. Careful management of cuff pressures especially when nitrous oxide is used, awareness of the condition and monitoring of the patient can prevent fatal consequences.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15630897/