Permanent tracheostomy in standing horses: technique and results

Permanent tracheal stomas were created in seven sedated, standing horses with severe upper airway obstruction. After local anesthesia, a 3-cm by 6-cm rectangle of skin was removed from the ventral surface of the neck, 3 cm distal to the cricoid cartilage. The sternothyrohyoideus muscles were clamped proximally and distally, then transected to expose the tracheal rings. The ventral third of four tracheal rings was dissected from the tracheal mucosa that was then incised in a double "Y." Two layers of suture were used to achieve mucocutaneous closure. Stomas healed without serious complications; two mares subsequently foaled, and three horses were used for riding.