Collapsing Trachea

Collapsed trachea (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)

Tracheal collapse (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)

• Occurs principally in
  • Horses - small ponies
  • Dogs - miniature and toy breeds eg: miniature Yorkshire terriers
  • Also cattle and goats
• Degeneration of tracheal ring cartilage and replacement with fibrous tissue results in reduced tracheal ring stiffness
• Flattening of the trachea dorsoventrally and widening of the dorsal membrane results in reduced airway diameter
• Airway diameter is further reduced by thickening of the dorsal membrane
• The dorsal membrane can become thickened with repeated low grade trauma/chronic tracheitis
• Can be segmental and extrathoracic or intrathoracic
• Extrathoracic collapse:
  • Inspiratory dyspnoea
  • Dorsal membrane prolapses into the lumen on inspiration, bulges out on expiration
• Intrathoracic collapse
  • Expiratory dyspnoea
  • Dorsal membrane prolapses into the lumen on expiration, bulges out on inspiration
  • Some dogs exhibit a characteristic "goose-honk" cough

Test yourself with the Trachea Pathology Flashcards

Trachea Pathology Flashcards