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🐇➡️🐶 New Silicone Tracheal Stent Shows Promise for Treating Canine Tracheal Collapse
Animal Model Exp Med. 2025
Obi Veterinary Education
October 24, 2025
Yoon-Hee Ryu, Chang-Hwan Moon, Won-Jong Lee, Jae-Min Jeong, Hae-Beom Lee, Seong-Mok Jeong, Dae-Hyun Kim
Background
Tracheal collapse is a progressive disorder in small-breed dogs, leading to airway obstruction and severe respiratory distress. While intraluminal stents offer minimally invasive stabilization, they carry risks of infection, granulation, and fracture. Extraluminal stents reduce these risks but require invasive placement and are still associated with complications. This study aimed to develop a novel extraluminal silicone stent with improved biocompatibility and anatomical conformity, first tested in a rabbit model due to similarities between rabbit and canine tracheas.
Methods
Eleven New Zealand White rabbits were used: three underwent tracheomalacia induction (cartilage resection without stent, TM group), and eight underwent the same procedure followed by stent implantation. The stent was made from medical-grade silicone, 0.7 mm thick and 21 mm wide, and surgically placed around the trachea. Rabbits were evaluated clinically and via radiography, CT, and histology at 1, 2, and 6 months. Outcomes included survival, airway patency, inflammatory and fibrotic responses, and preservation of tracheal cartilage.
Results
All stented rabbits survived without respiratory distress, while all TM group rabbits developed severe stridor, with one death. Imaging confirmed that stents restored tracheal diameter and cross-sectional area to preoperative levels, preventing collapse. Histological analysis showed intact cartilage and mucosal integrity, with minimal fibrosis and inflammation that decreased over time. At 6 months, inflammation and fibrosis scores were significantly lower compared to early post-implantation, and tissue adaptation was evident.
Limitations
The small sample size limits generalizability. The induced tracheomalacia model may not fully replicate the chronic progression of naturally occurring canine disease. Extraluminal placement remains invasive and may prolong recovery compared to intraluminal stents. Optimization of stent dimensions for canine application and evaluation of long-term durability are needed.
Conclusions
The novel silicone extraluminal stent effectively maintained airway patency, prevented respiratory distress, and showed good biocompatibility in a rabbit tracheomalacia model. Its vascular-sparing design reduces risks of necrosis and nerve injury, while silicone’s flexibility minimizes irritation. The results support further testing in canine models, with future potential for customized, 3D-printed stents tailored to patient anatomy.
(A) Tracheomalacia model: The yellow circle indicates the collapsed tracheal segment. Magnification: 1x. (B) Stent model (6 months post-implantation): The yellow circle indicates the implanted stent supporting the trachea. Magnification: 1x. (C) Tracheal diameter ratio: The TM group exhibited the lowest ratio (0.613 ± 0.118), indicating severe collapse, whereas the preoperative value was significantly higher (1.109 ± 0.042). The stented groups demonstrated improved patency (1 Mo: 1.082 ± 0.045, 2 Mo: 1.070 ± 0.044, 6 Mo: 1.110 ± 0.073), and the ratios in the stented groups were comparable to the preoperative value (p > 0.05). (D, E) Tracheomalacia model (sagittal and transverse views): The collapsed tracheal segment is visible. (D: Yellow arrow; E: Yellow circle). Magnification: 1x. (F, G) Stent model at 6 months (sagittal and transverse views): The implanted stent provides structural support (F: Yellow arrow; G: Yellow circle). Magnification: 1x. (H) Cross-sectional area (CSA) ratio: The TM group exhibited the lowest CSA ratio (0.519 ± 0.031), indicating severe airway collapse (p < 0.001). In contrast, the stented groups (1 Mo: 1.125 ± 0.011; 2 Mo: 1.165 ± 0.009; 6 Mo: 1.137 ± 0.007) demonstrated significantly improved airway patency, comparable to the preoperative (Pre OP) value (1.133 ± 0.005), suggesting effective structural restoration (p > 0.05). ***p < 0.001; nsp > 0.05. Pre OP, preoperative values; TM, tracheomalacia group. Scale bar=10 mm.
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