| Abstrakt: |
Pliable total ring prostheses were created from the polyvinyl chloride drip chambers of intravenous administration sets. The total ring prostheses were placed in one clinically normal research dog and in 4 client-owned dogs diagnosed with tracheal collapse. The research dog was euthanized one month after placement of the prostheses. Histopathological analysis of the trachea adjacent to the prostheses revealed a mild inflammatory response. The follow-up period for the clinical cases was from 4 months to 11 years. Radiographs taken and fluoroscopy performed 1 day to 5 months after surgery revealed improvement or resolution of the tracheal collapse. One dog was asymptomatic 28 weeks following surgery. Two dogs died 7 and 9 years after surgery, with one requiring intermittent medical management for coughing. They were euthanized for nonrespiratory illness. One dog had a persistent nonproductive cough, due to collapse of the mainstem bronchi, when last evaluated 4 months postoperatively. Pliable total ring prostheses provided adequate stability to the trachea and had the advantage of conforming to the trachea and being easy to create, place, and suture. |
