What dogs are predisposed to tracheal collapse?
Older toy and miniature dogs (usually obese)
What type of cough can you elicit from a dog with collapsing trachea?
Honking cough
What can collapsing trachea be 2* to?
Heart failure or chronic bronchitis
What age range does collapsing trachea usually affect?
Older (7yo)
What are early signs of collapsing trachea?
Mild productive cough and exercise intolerance
What triggers dyspnea in a collapsing trachea case?
Excitement or anxiety
What is the pathophysiology for primary collapsing trachea?
Weak/redundant dorsal tracheal membrane
If the extrathoracic trachea (neck) is involved, when will the trachea collapse?
On inspiration
If the intrathoracic trachea is involved, when will the trachea collapse?
On expiration
What happens to the cartilaginous rings of the trachea that causes them to collapse?
They become hypoplastic or fibrodystrophic
How do you diagnose collapsing trachea?
Honking cough, flattened trachea on radiographs, endoscopy
How do you treat collapsing trachea?
ID underlying cause and sx tx accordingly, intratracheal stent
When is medical management a better option for collapsing trachea?
When bronchial collapse is also present
How do you treat collapsing trachea cases that also exhibit bronchial collapse?
Wt. loss, anxiolytics, bronchodilators
If the tracheal cartilage is normal and tracheal collapse is only mild, what surgical treatment can you do?
Dorsal tracheal membrane plication
What are cons of intratracheal stenting?
Stent can fracture, collapse prox/distal to stent, may induce mucus production
What is the success rate of a properly used intratracheal stent?
80%
What external tracheal supports are available for treatment of collapsing trachea?
Plastic rings, polypropylene syringe cases, Teflon tubing
Why is external tracheal support not commonly used?
Results have not been consistent
Do practitioners usually opt for surgical or medical treatment of collapsing trachea and why?
Medical because sx intervention is not highly successful
How do you demonstrate intrathoracic tracheal narrowing on radiographs?
End-insp and end-exp pictures
What type of flattening of the tracheal rings do you see with tracheal collapse?
Dorsoventral flattening
What are the cartilage rings deficient in that causes them to be weak and collapse?
Glycosaminoglycans, condroitin, and calsium
Is 1* or 2* tracheal collapse more common?
2*
Why might a tracheal collapse case be hyperthermic?
Obstruction of upper airway prevents patients from cooling themselves
Do patients that have undergone surgical treatment still need medical management for tracheal collapse?
Yes usually lifelong daily meds
What cough suppressants can you give a tracheal collapse?
Hydrocodone or butorphanol
What bronchodilator is useful for tracheal collapse?
Theophylline