Arytenoid Lateralization for Management of Combined Laryngeal Paralysis and Laryngeal Collapse in Small Dogs

OBJECTIVE: To identify combined laryngeal paralysis and collapse in small dogs and describe postoperative outcome after arytenoid lateralization. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Small nonbrachycephalic breed dogs with laryngeal paralysis and collapse (n = 6). METHODS: Medical records of small breed dogs with airway problems and undergoing laryngeal surgery (January-December 2008) were reviewed. Dogs with combined laryngeal paralysis and laryngeal collapse (LPLC) had arytenoid lateralization. The immediate, 4 week and 6 month postoperative outcomes were described. RESULTS: Direct visual laryngeal exam under a light plane of anesthesia revealed bilateral failure of arytenoid and vocal fold movement and concurrent bilateral medial folding with contact of the cuneiform processes in all dogs. None of the dogs had intra- or immediate postoperative complications after arytenoid lateralization. Two dogs required a 2nd contralateral procedure. Follow-up after 6 months revealed marked improvement in clinical signs related to upper airway obstruction, but all dogs continued to have mild respiratory noise. CONCLUSION: Concurrent laryngeal paralysis and collapse should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis for small, nonbrachycephalic dogs with upper airway disease. Arytenoid lateralization resulted in improvement of clinical signs related to obstructive airway disease.