79 (4) 275-283
Tracheal collapse is a progressive degenerative disease that can be symptomatically treated with medicationand/or by surgical intervention. This article reports 5 cases with serious dyspnea, exercise intolerance, syncope orcyanosis caused by tracheal collapse. All dogs showed a poor quality of life despite medical treatment. Enlargementof the tracheal lumen was achieved by the placement of an intraluminal prosthesis to support the collapsing trachea.Observed complications after the placement of an intraluminal stent were attributed to inappropriately sized stents(development of granulation tissue, shortening with undersized diameter and recurrence when the trachea is onlypartly supported). Complications caused by intraluminal stents can be life threatening. One patient died of trachealobstruction by granulation tissue. The life quality of the other 4 patients improved considerably: 2 patients improved(mean follow-up 3.5 months) and 2 patients became asymptomatic (mean follow-up 9 months).