Self-expanding nitinol stents for the treatment of tracheal collapse in dogs: 12 cases (2001-2004)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term outcome following nitinol stent placement in dogs with tracheal collapse. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 12 client-owned dogs with endoscopically diagnosed tracheal collapse refractory to medical management. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed for 12 dogs in which 1 or more self-expanding nitinol stents were placed for the treatment of endoscopically diagnosed tracheal collapse. A total of 17 stents were placed. RESULTS: Survival times after stent placement ranged from 1 to 48 months. Three of 12 dogs died within 6 months after stent placement. Nine dogs survived > 1 year after stent placement, and 7 dogs survived > 2 years. Of the deceased dogs, 5 of 9 succumbed to tracheal disease. Other causes of death included congestive heart failure, cerebral neoplasia, cerebrovascular accident, and renal failure. Material failure (stent fracture) was a common complication (5/12 dogs). Other complications reported included excessive granulation tissue within the stent lumen, tracheitis, and pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Placement of an intraluminal stent with self-expanding nitinol stents was a successful palliative treatment for tracheal collapse in dogs that did not respond to medical management. Disease progression is inevitable, but substantial improvement in respiratory function may be achieved for a period of months to years.