Migration of extraluminal tracheal ring prostheses after tracheoplasty for treatment of tracheal collapse in a dog.

CASE DESCRIPTION: An 8-year-old castrated male Yorkshire Terrier was evaluated because of a 1-month history of inspiratory dyspnea that began 2.5 years after placement of extraluminal tracheal ring prostheses for tracheal collapse.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Physical examination revealed severe inspiratory dyspnea. Cervicothoracic radiography revealed a soft tissue opacity within the lumen of the cervical portion of the trachea at approximately the level of the fifth cervical vertebra. Tracheobronchoscopy revealed 2 prosthetic rings protruding into the tracheal lumen.

TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The dog was anesthetized, and the 2 protruding tracheal ring prostheses were removed via separate tracheotomies. Tracheoscopy was performed after surgery, and a third prosthetic ring that was found freely floating within the tracheal lumen was removed with an endoscopic grasping forceps. The dog recovered without complications. Dyspnea resolved within the first 2 weeks after surgery. Follow-up examination performed 6 months after surgery revealed that the dog was breathing normally, with no dyspnea or coughing reported by the owner.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Migration of extraluminal tracheal ring prostheses should be included in the differential diagnoses for any dog with dyspnea or persistent coughing after surgical correction of cervical tracheal collapse. Surgical removal of the protruding prosthetic rings, without provision of additional tracheal support, was a viable treatment option in this case.