Unilateral arytenoid lateralisation for the treatment of laryngeal paralysis in four cats

A unilateral arytenoid lateralisation procedure was successfully performed in four cats with either unilateral or bilateral laryngeal paralysis. All of the cats were presented for the investigation of signs of exercise-related respiratory embarrassment and stridor. Other clinical signs seen included altered vocalisation, an inability to purr, coughing and lethargy. A diagnosis of either bilateral or left or right unilateral laryngeal paralysis was made in each case following visual inspection of the vocal folds with the aid of a laryngoscope under a light plane of anaesthesia. In two cases the paralysis was bilateral and the condition was considered to be either congenital or idiopathic. In the other two cases the condition was unilateral and was considered to be iatrogenic as a result of previous surgical procedures. The results of this technique were considered excellent in all cases.