Tracheolaryngostomy as a treatment for laryngeal obstruction in cattle

Inspiratory dyspnoea may be the result of chronic laryngeal obstruction or, rarely, because of tracheal collapse. Chronic laryngeal obstruction, as a result of necrobacillosis or infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, responds poorly to medical treatment. A tracheolaryngostomy technique under general anaesthesia is described with closure of the laryngotomy incision. Animals were selected for surgery following radiography and endoscopy. With a permanent cranial tracheostomy incision, calves could be managed easily by the farmer as a tracheotomy tube was found to be unnecessary 1 week after surgery once the postoperative swelling had subsided. The technique had a high success rate at 6 months follow-up. In animals with severe bronchopneumonia without laryngeal abscesses at endoscopy, tracheotomy and medical therapy with antibiotics and steroids may be successful. Chronic laryngeal obstruction is more common in double-muscled calves because of the anatomy of the upper airways, increasing laryngeal resistance to airflow.