Bilateral laryngeal paralysis following a ventral slot surgery in a dog

Case report: Laryngospasm following ethanol ablation of a parathyroid nodule in a dog with primary hyperparathyroidism

A 12-year-old female spayed dachshund was presented for emergency assessment of respiratory distress, characterized by inspiratory dyspnea with stridor. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation of a functional parathyroid tumor was performed 72-h earlier for management of primary hyperparathyroidism. The dog was hypocalcemic (ionized calcium 0.7 mmol/L, reference interval: 0.9-1.3 mmol/L) at the time of presentation and had evidence of laryngospasm on a sedated oral exam. The dog was managed conservatively with supplemental oxygen, anxiolysis, and parenteral calcium administration. These interventions were associated with rapid and sustained improvement in clinical signs. The dog did not demonstrate any recurrence of signs afterwards. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of laryngospasm following ethanol ablation of a parathyroid nodule in a dog that developed hypocalcemia.

Optimising endotracheal length in adult cats: a retrospective CT study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the maximal endotracheal insertion length by measuring the larynx to carina (L-C) distance by means of CT. An additional objective was to establish certain anatomical landmarks to optimise the process of endotracheal intubation (ETI).

METHODS

Head, neck and thoracic CT images from adult cats at a single referral hospital between 2013 and 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. After standardising and identifying key markers (larynx, carina and first rib) the L-C, larynx to first rib (L-1R) and first rib to carina (1R-C) distances were measured.

RESULTS

Forty-five adult cats were enrolled in the study, from which a total of nine different breeds were identified. The L-C distance was 14.3 ± 1.1 cm. This was longer in male (14.7 ± 1.1 cm) than in female cats (13.5 ± 0.7 cm). The first rib (1R) was 8.8 ± 0.7 cm from the larynx and the mean 1R-C distance was 5.4 ± 0.7 cm. The carina was found within the fifth intercostal space in 93.3% (n = 42) of the cats.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The process of ETI in adult cats may be guided by using the L-C and L-1R distance for a maximal and optimal endotracheal tube introduction, respectively. In addition, the maximal insertion length may be guided by estimating the position of the carina parallel to the fifth intercostal space.