Collapsing Trachea Update
26 May 2009
(The Nitinol stent is also known as the Infinity Stent)
Drs. Durant
and Sura at University of Tennessee College of Veterinary
Medicine reviewed records from 18 dogs that underwent Nitinol stent
placement ("Vet Stent - Trachea"). This is a newer type of stent that we
hope will be more durable and appropriately sized for dogs compared with the
human stents. Yorkies were the most common breed affected (61%) and most were
middle age at the time of onset, although some had signs as young as 3 years of
age or as old as 13 years. Outcomes were excellent in 13% (no clinical
signs at all), good in 27% (infrequent coughing), and fair in 47% (frequent
clinical signs and need for regular medications and treatments).
Complications included stent breakage (11%) and pneumonia (14%). Mortality rate
was 13%; two dogs died 1-2 months after stent placement because of acute
respiratory distress. Follow-up was available for 13 of the surviving dogs; all
were alive 6 months to 2 years after stent placement. The nitinol
stent helps relieve clinical signs in dogs with tracheal collapse and is
unlikely to break. Because stents only work in the trachea, owners should
expect that dogs with bronchial collapse will continue to have coughing and
other signs of respiratory problems and may require steroids and cough
suppressants for life.
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