ABSTRACT
Severe or chronic pharyngeal or laryngeal disease can lead to weight loss and emaciation, inappetence, dyspnoea, hypoxia and aspiration pneumonia, which can all affect anaesthesia protocols and wound healing. These
correction of brachycephaly-related abnormalities such as overlong soft palate, correction of oropharyngeal dysphagia, tonsillectomy, exploration of the throat after stick injury or other traumatic events and for marsupialisation of mucoceles. Surgery for brachycephalic patients has been discussed in Chapter 19 Surgery of the Nose, Section 19.3, the other procedures will be discussed in this chapter. Laryngeal surgery is most commonly performed for acquired laryngeal paralysis in older large and giant breed dogs, or for removal of laryngeal masses (ventral laryngotomy or partial to complete laryngectomy). Partial or complete laryngectomy are rarely performed and are considered technically very demanding. These animals are best served by referral to a specialist surgeon. With proper anatomical knowledge, gentle tissue handling, use of appropriate instruments and technique, cautious use of anaesthetics, and stringent perioperative care and monitoring, succesful thyroid-arytenoid lateralisation and ventral laryngotomy however may be achievable in large small animal practises and will be reviewed in the final two sections of this chapter.
