Surgery Of The Trachea Flashcards
Where does the trachea start?
Right after the larynx, at the level of the cricoid cartilage
What muscles cover the ventral cranial cervical trachea?
Sternohyoideus and sternothyroideus mm.
Surgical approach to caudal cervical and cranial thoracic trachea surgery?
Median sternotomy Or intercostal thoracotomy (R 3rd ICS: cranial thoracic trachea; R 4th ICS: tracheal bifurcation)
First clinical sign associated with tracheal tear?
Subcutaneous emphysema (Air underneath the skin; can be from a small tear in the trachea, can go all around to the body, anywhere…)
Which tracheal resection/anastomosis technique is most recommended, resulting in least amount of stenosis post-op?
Split-cartilage technique
What are the indications for a permanent tracheostomy?
{Salvage Procedure}
Untreatable upper airway obstruction (I.e. palliation for nonresectable laryngeal neoplasia, Stage III Laryngeal Collapse)
Upper airway treatment failure
(I.e. failed treatment of laryngeal paralysis or laryngeal collapse)
failure of LP Tx:
let’s say dog had both sides that were done (in terms of a tie-back) & those sides either tore through, collapsed, didn’t hold, & they can’t breathe thru the upper airway —> may need permanent tracheostomy
What significant complication of tracheal resection & anastomosis is a result of poor apposition of mucosa, tension, and/or inflammation?
Stricture!! —>use Split Cartilage Technique
When performing a permanent tracheostomy, why is it important to make the incision big?
Because the stoma will decrease 40-50% in size in most animals!
accurate apposition of skin & tracheal mucosa reduces inflammation & amt of stenosis
Prognosis for Permanent Tracheostomy:
Dogs vs. Cats
Good for indoor dogs if underlying disease is benign;
guarded to poor for cats :(
Mucus plugs common—>acute death
MST: 20-42 days
