SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF TRACHEAL COLLAPSE IN DOGS - 90 CASES (1983-1993)

Objective-To determine factors associated with long-term outcome in do gs with tracheal collapse treated with extraluminal polypropylene C-sh aped stents. Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-90 dogs. Proced ure-Medical records of dogs with surgically treated tracheal collapse were reviewed. Follow-up was obtained either by recheck at the veterin ary teaching hospital only (n = 10) or by telephone interviews with re ferring veterinarians and owners (n = 35), referring veterinarians alo ne (n = 23), or owners alone (n = 16). The chi(2) test was used to det ermine which factors were associated with long-term outcome. Results-1 1 breeds were represented. Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles, and Pomeranian s were most common. Median age at the time of surgery was 6.8 years. M edian weight was 2.9 kg. Severity of collapse ranged from grade II to grade IV. Dogs < 6 years old had more severe collapse than did dogs gr eater than or equal to 6 years old. Dogs greater than or equal to 6 ye ars old had more postoperative complications and a poorer longterm out come than did dogs < 6 years old. 17 dogs required permanent tracheost omy, 10 within 24 hours after surgery. Clinical Implications-Surgical placement of extraluminal polypropylene C-shaped stents was an effecti ve method of attenuating clinical signs of tracheal collapse. Dogs < 6 years old had more severe tracheal collapse but did better after surg ery than did dogs greater than or equal to 6 years old.