Left principal bronchus rupture in a cat

A two-year-old neutered male domestic shorthaired cat was referred with respiratory compromise. Investigations included thoracic radiography and tracheal endoscopy. Findings were consistent with a traumatic avulsion injury to the left principal bronchus. Treatment involved the resection of the ruptured and stenosed left principal bronchus segment via a fifth right intercostal lateral thoracotomy. Once the damaged portion of bronchus had been removed, bronchial repair was achieved by end-to-end anastomosis. A full recovery was made and, at the time of writing (16 months postoperatively), the cat was clinically normal.