Endoscopic diode laser lysis of dorsal acquired glottic web and custom-made Silastic keel placement in a dog

Laryngeal web is a rare condition in dogs that can cause upper airway obstruction. Surgery is the treatment of choice to remove the glottic obstruction. In veterinary medicine, ventral laryngotomy has been described for resection of laryngeal webs. In humans, the endolaryngeal surgical approach consists of laser ablation of the glottic obstruction, followed by temporary placement of a protective keel onto the exposed arytenoid mucosa to prevent excessive granulation tissue formation and recurrence. In the present case, a dog with a dorsal acquired glottic web associated with obstructive dyspnea was successfully treated via transoral endoscopic lysis using a diode laser and temporary keel placement. The favorable outcome suggests the potential for broader application of this technique. Key clinical message: Diode laser ablation represents a minimally invasive technique for treatment of laryngeal web, a rare cause of laryngeal obstruction in dogs. Temporary keel placement may help prevent recurrence, which is frequently reported following web resection.