Surgical reconstruction using a mucosal graft and temporary nasal stent in a cat with severe nasal stenosis

A 4-year-old spayed female exotic shorthair cat was presented to a tertiary referral center because of chronic, open-mouth breathing resulting from complete nasal stenosis, a complication of revision rhinoplasty surgery for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. Reconstruction to create a new, single naris was done by using a biopsy punch, harvesting a sublingual mucosal graft, and placing the graft with a temporary nasal stent. No major complications were encountered. At 18 d postoperatively, the nasal stent was removed and the neo-nasal orifice appeared healthy and patent. At 40 and 95 d postoperatively, the neo-nasal orifice had decreased in size but remained patent and the cat continued to breathe comfortably. Key clinical message: This case report describes the surgical technique for and successful use of a sublingual graft and temporary nasal stent for reconstruction of a nasal passage in a brachycephalic cat. This technique should be considered a viable surgical option for severe nasal stenosis in feline patients for which conventional rhinoplasty is unlikely to be successful.