{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.04658583280153159, 'fraction_numerical': 0.02169751116783663, 'mean_word_length': 4.9393939393939394, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 2, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 1, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Comparison of Outcome After Use of Extra-Luminal Rings and Intra-Luminal Stents for Treatment of Tracheal Collapse in Dogs.

OBJECTIVE
To report short- and long-term complications and outcomes of dogs treated for tracheal collapse secondary to chondromalacia with extra-luminal rings (ELR) or intra-luminal stents (ILS).


STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective cohort.


SAMPLE POPULATION
Dogs with naturally occurring tracheal collapse (n = 103).


METHODS
Medical records (2002-2012) of dogs diagnosed with tracheal collapse that had treatment with ELR (n = 73) or ILS (30) were reviewed. Demographic information, procedural information, complications, survival time, and subjective outcomes were recorded. Follow-up periods were defined as <730 days (short-term) and >730 days (long-term).


RESULTS
Ninety-two percent of dogs undergoing ELR and 100% of dogs undergoing ILS survived to hospital discharge. ELR dogs were significantly younger (P = .009) and significantly fewer had main-stem bronchial collapse (P < .001). After accounting for effects of age and presence of main-stem bronchial collapse, there was no significant difference in median survival time between groups. Dogs with main-stem bronchial collapse (regardless of treatment type) had a shorter survival time than dogs without main-stem bronchial collapse. Major complications occurred in ELR (42%) and ILS dogs (43%).


CONCLUSIONS
Both ELR and ILS are associated with high complication rates. Younger dogs and dogs without main-stem bronchial collapse had a longer survival time, regardless of treatment.