H. Phil Hobson

Outcome of permanent tracheostomy for treatment of upper airway obstruction in cats: 21 cases (1990–2007)

OBJECTIVE To determine clinical outcome of permanent tracheostomy in cats with upper airway obstruction. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 21 cats. PROCEDURES Medical records were reviewed for information on history, signalment, clinical signs, results of preoperative clinicopathologic testing, cause of upper airway obstruction, surgical procedure, postoperative complications, and outcome. RESULTS Causes of upper airway obstruction included neoplasia (squamous cell carcinoma [n = 6] or malignant lymphoma [2]), inflammatory laryngeal disease (5), laryngeal paralysis (4), trauma (3), and a laryngeal mass of unknown cause (1). Fourteen cats had dyspnea in the immediate postoperative period; dyspnea most often resulted from mucous plugs at the stoma or elsewhere in the respiratory tract. Eleven cats died, including 6 cats that died while hospitalized after surgery and 5 cats that died after discharge; 7 cats were euthanatized, most often because of progression of neoplasia; and 2 were still alive at the time of the study. The remaining cat was lost to follow-up after discharge from the hospital. Overall, median survival time for the 20 cats for which information was available was 20.5 days (range, 1 day to 5 years). Cats that underwent permanent tracheostomy because of inflammatory laryngeal disease were 6.61 times as likely to die as cats that underwent permanent tracheostomy for any other reason. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that permanent tracheostomy was an uncommon procedure in cats with upper airway obstruction that was associated with high complication and mortality rates.

ESOPHAGEAL HIATAL HERNIA IN THREE EXOTIC FELINES— LYNX LYNX, PUMA CONCOLORE, PANTHERA LEO

Abstract Hiatal hernia was diagnosed in three exotic felines—lynx (Lynx lynx), cougar (Puma concolore), and lion (Panthera leo). All cats had a history of anorexia. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs showed evidence of a soft tissue mass within the caudal mediastinum suggestive of a hiatal hernia in all animals. A barium esophagram was performed in one case. All animals underwent thoracic or abdominal surgery for hernia reduction. Surgical procedures included: intercostal thoracotomy with herniorrhaphy and esophagopexy (lynx and cougar), and incisional gastropexy (lion). Concurrent surgical procedures performed were gastrotomy for gastric foreign body removal and jejunostomy tube placement. Clinical signs related to the hiatal hernia disappeared after surgery and recurrence of signs was not reported for the time of follow-up.

Gastroesophageal intussusception in a leopard (Panthera pardus).

Abstract An 8-yr-old male leopard (Panthera pardus) was presented with a 4-day history of lethargy, vomiting, and anorexia. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs revealed a soft-tissue mass cranial to the diaphragm and atypical appearance of the gastric fundus. Esophagoscopy revealed gastric mucosa in the lumen of the esophagus, which confirmed gastroesophageal intussusception. An exploratory celiotomy with manual reduction of the intussusception was performed. Reduction was verified by intraoperative esophagoscopy and gastroscopy. An incisional fundic gastropexy to the left abdominal wall was performed to reduce the chance of a recurrence of the intussusception. No postoperative complications related to the surgery were observed, and the animal resumed eating within 48 hr of surgery. A subsequent recurrence of clinical signs was not noted by the owner.

An Intrapericardial Technique for PDA Ligation: Surgical Description and Clinical Outcome in 35 Dogs

A number of surgical techniques have been reported for dissection and ligation of patent ductus arteriosi (PDAs) in dogs. The objectives of this study were to provide a detailed description of an intrapericardial technique for PDA dissection and ligation and to report the clinical outcome of that technique in dogs. Medical records of 35 dogs were retrospectively reviewed for signalment, clinical signs, echocardiographic findings, surgical time, intra- and postoperative complications, and completeness of ductal closure. Median surgery time was 60 min (range, 35-125 min). Neither intraoperative nor postoperative complications occurred. Within 48 hr of surgery, the continuous left basilar heart murmur was absent in all dogs, and complete echocardiographic closure was confirmed in 29 of 32 dogs. Residual flow was identified echocardiographically in three dogs within 48 hr of surgery. Residual flow was decreased in one dog at 1 mo, which resolved within 33 mo. One dog had mild residual flow postoperatively but did not return for follow-up. The intrapericardial technique was successful for PDA dissection and ligation and had a lower rate (6%) of echocardiographic residual flow compared with previously reported techniques.