Tracheal Anastomosis in the Dog Comparison of Two End-to-End Techniques

Two techniques for tracheal resection and anastomosis were performed and compared in 20 normal dogs. In one technique, cartilage rings were split circumferentially, and the split rings were apposed with simple interrupted sutures that penetrated the annular ligament. In the other technique, the annular ligaments were incised and apposed with simple interrupted sutures placed through the annular ligament and around the adjacent ring. Endoscopy and xeroradiography were used to evaluate the anastomotic sites at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively. Infection, mucus accumulation, coughing, stridor, or anastomotic separations were not seen. Stenosis of the anastomotic site was observed in 80% of the dogs, due to the intraluminal protrusion of epithelialized fibrous connective tissue. The split cartilage technique was easy to perform and resulted in less dorsoventral stenosis than the annular ligament technique.