Extraluminal nitinol prosthesis in the treatment of intrathoracic tracheal collapse in a dog

Abstract

A six-month-old male Brazilian Terrier with persistent cough and dyspnea was diagnosed with intrathoracic tracheal collapse and pneumonia after chest radiographics. The medical treatment was performed, and an extraluminal nitinol prosthesis was placed through thoracic access. The dog did not presented recurrence of dyspnea or pneumonia for four years after the surgical procedure. Placement of the extraluminal prosthesis with the thoracic approach effectively stabilized intrathoracic tracheal collapse without causing any structural damage in the thoracic region. Therefore, this is the first report of a successful use of this prosthesis with an intercostal approach in dogs for intrathoracic trachea collapse.