Bilateral thyroarytenoid cartilage lateralization and vocal fold excision with mucosoplasty for treatment of idiopathic laryngeal paralysis: 67 dogs (1998-2005).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate combined bilateral thyroarytenoid cartilage lateralization, vocal fold excision, and mucosoplasty technique (BTAL) through ventral median laryngotomy for treatment of laryngeal paralysis in dogs. Design- Retrospective study. Animals- Dogs (n=67) with laryngeal paralysis. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis that had BTAL between January 1998 and March 2005. Retrieved data included signalment, history, physical and laryngoscopic examination findings, clinicopathologic tests, and results of recheck examination findings. RESULTS: BTAL was performed by a single surgeon. Short-term (<6 months) follow-up information was available for 67 dogs and long-term (>12 months) for 40 dogs. Major postoperative complications were surgical failures (13; 7 short term, 6 long term) and aspiration pneumonia (1). Mean recurrence of clinical signs was at 19 weeks (range, 2-30 weeks). Minor complications occurred in 22 (33%) dogs including occasional coughing or gagging, stridorous breathing during exercise, panting, noisy or heavy breathing, and aspiration pneumonia (3 dogs) that did not require hospitalization. All owners reported an improved quality of life and had no regrets with surgical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: BTAL is seemingly an effective procedure for treatment of laryngeal paralysis. Clinical Relevance- BTAL is associated with a low incidence of aspiration pneumonia; however, there is substantial risk of recurrence of clinical signs associated with narrowing of the glottis. Consequently, unilateral arytenoid lateralization currently represents the accepted approach to the treatment of laryngeal paralysis.

Protective effect of mitochondrial KATP activation in an isolated gracilis model of ischemia and reperfusion in dogs.

Adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) openers protect ischemic myocardium by direct protection of cardiac myocytes, which is thought to be a result of activation of mitochondrial KATP (mKATP). KATP is expressed in skeletal muscle, and the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the mKATP opener BMS-191095 on infarct size in an isolated gracilis model of ischemia and reperfusion in dogs. The right and left gracilis muscles were isolated in anesthetized dogs except for the artery and vein supplying these muscles (pedicle). BMS-191095 (0.4 mg) or vehicle were infused directly into the artery supplying each gracilis muscle (each animal had one drug-treated and one vehicle-treated muscle). The pedicle was completely occluded for 5 hours followed by 48 hours of reperfusion, after which infarct size was determined. In the vehicle-treated gracilis muscles, significant necrosis was observed (82% +/- 3% of gracilis muscle). BMS-191095 significantly reduced the infarct size in the contralateral gracilis muscle (55% +/- 6%). Reflow into the gracilis muscle was significantly greater in BMS-191095-treated muscles. BMS-191095 appears to reduce damage in ischemic/reperfused skeletal muscle, suggesting that mKATP activation is an important protective mechanism in this tissue.