Primary bronchotomy for removal of an intrabronchial foreign body in a dog

Abstract

An 8-year-old, spayed female toy poodle presented with wounds sustained from a dog fight. The multiple orthopedic injuries present were managed surgically. Months later, a chronic cough developed secondary to an aspirated canine tooth in the mainstem bronchus of the right cranial lung that was nonresponsive to medical management. A thoracotomy and primary bronchotomy were performed to remove the aspirated tooth, resulting in complete resolution of clinical signs. Bronchial foreign bodies are rarely diagnosed in companion animals. Primary bronchotomy is an alternative to bronchoscopy or lung lobectomy in cases that do not respond to medical management.

What Is Your Diagnosis?

“…In 1 dog, an aspirated tooth has also been reported. 6 Survey radiography of the thorax can be used to detect certain radiopaque bronchial foreign bodies, but when a foreign body is situated near the tracheal bifurcation or at the inlet of the mainstem bronchi, as in the dog of this report, differential diagnoses should include an esophageal or mediastinal location. 7,8 Bronchoscopy is useful for diagnosing radiolucent bronchial foreign bodies and for identifying and removing aspirated foreign material.…”

Diagnostic Imaging in Veterinary Dental Practice

“…Tooth foreign bodies were found in the mainstem bronchus of the lung in a Toy Poodle after a fight with another dog. 8 Rhinoscopy and retrograde repulsion can also be used to remove nasal foreign bodies. Rhinoscopy was not available for the dog of the present report, and an- 1.…”

Role of Endoscopy in Diagnosis and Removal of Respiratory System Foreign Bodies in Dogs and Cats

“…Air-ways obstruction with aspirated foreign bodies is fairly common (den Hertog 2003, Roy et al, 2005. In some cases the migration of gastrointestinal foreign bodies leads to obstruction of the air ways and other respiratory system lesions as acute mediastinitis and mediastinal abscess (Koutinas et al, 2003, Yang et al, 2005 These foreign bodies are usually the cause of many respiratory symptoms as nasal discharge, intermittent epistaxsis, sneezing, persistent cough, and in some cases may lead to complications during inhalation anesthesia (Gibson and Hedlund 1992, Pacchiana et al, 2001, Roy et al, 2005, Tivers and Moore 2006.…”