Non-surgical options for canine laryngeal paralysis
- María Victoria Bignu
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Clinical case: female dog with laryngeal paralysis and use of a laryngeal stent
A 15-year-old female dog arrived at AniCura Valencia in severe respiratory distress. Dr Jorge Llinás examined her and confirmed a complex condition: laryngeal paralysis, infectious laryngitis and bronchopneumonia. Emergency intubation was essential.
On examination, the larynx was very friable and markedly inflamed, in the context of a lesion secondary to a previous pathology and with an infectious process still under investigation.
It was decided to perform a cricoarytenoid lateralisation, using the CAL technique and two non-absorbable monofilament sutures. However, despite correct execution, the larynx was unable to open sufficiently due to ankylosis of the cricoarytenoid joint.
In this scenario, the team decided to place a laryngeal stent. As a result, the stent stabilised the patient and restored ventilation.
“It is essential to have different diameters and wall thicknesses. A ‘standard’ stent for the underlying condition would not have been very helpful in this case. We used a stent with a robust wall, and that changed the outcome.” — Dr. Jorge Llinás
Why does your veterinary clinic need a laryngeal prosthesis starter kit?
An airway starter kit is not just a box of devices. It is a preparedness strategy:
It allows you to act in minutes, not days.
It reduces decision time when the patient is unstable.
It prevents cases from being lost due to not having the right equipment at the critical moment.
It adds a non-surgical rescue option for laryngeal paralysis, collapses, stenosis and other complex conditions.
In the case of AniCura Valencia, having a laryngeal stent ready to insert made all the difference.
Why does a Starter Kit make a difference in a respiratory emergency?
The anatomical and pathophysiological variability of the larynx and trachea (especially in geriatric patients or those with infection) requires versatile devices. A well-designed Starter Kit gives you exactly that:
Range of diameters: select the optimal calibre to ensure patency without trauma.
Different wall thicknesses (robust wall for greater stability and resistance in inflamed/friable tissues and standard wall for better flexibility when anatomy allows).
Various lengths: adapt coverage to the lesion, minimising migration and unnecessary contact.
Critical redundancy: if one size does not ‘fit’ well, you have immediate alternatives without stopping the procedure.
“If I had only had one stent size, I wouldn't have been able to do anything. Having different stents, different sizes and different thicknesses is essential in any clinic.” — Dr. Jorge Llinás
The clinical decision in this case was to choose the robust wall stent, prioritising stability in an environment with torn cartilage and severe inflammation. The aim was to restore airflow with minimal additional trauma and maximum safety.
Having a Starter Kit prepares you for unusual situations.
Therefore, as a professional, you must have a smart stock (12–14 stents with varying diameters, lengths and thicknesses prevent delays and reoperations) and clear protocols (airway algorithm that includes the stent option when conventional surgery is not immediately feasible).
Experience at AniCura Valencia shows that, in cases of laryngeal paralysis complicated by severe inflammation and infection, having immediate non-surgical alternatives available can save the airway when cricoarytenoid lateralisation fails to achieve effective opening due to joint ankylosis.
Would you like to know more about STENTS? Visit our website https://www.abtvet.com/
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