Surgical treatment of laryngeal paralysis in a cat

A one year old cat, with a history of respiratory dyspnea since it was eight weeks of age, was found to have abnormal function of the larynx. A castellated laryngofissure and bilateral ventriculocordectomy was performed. The respiratory distress was alleviated and the cat's personality changed from being apprehensive and elusive to that of a friendly, social animal. A slight cough remained and a fiberoptic examination four months postoperatively revealed that the right arytenoid drooped medially. Thirteen months after the arytenoid was sutured to the lateral wall of the pharynx, the cat is coughing less frequently and appears to be doing well.