A 25-year-old, female eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) presented for
dyspnea 3 weeks after
anesthesia and surgery for egg yolk coelomitis. Radiography, computed tomography, and tracheoscopy revealed multiple tracheal
strictures spanning a length of 2.6 cm in the mid to distal trachea. Histopathologic examination revealed mild
fibrosis,
inflammation, and
hyperplasia consistent with acquired tracheal
strictures. Tracheal resection was not considered possible because of the length of the affected trachea. The
strictures were resected endoscopically, and repeated balloon dilation under fluoroscopic guidance over the course of 10 months resulted in immediate but unsustained improvement. Computed tomography was used to measure the stenotic area. A 4 × 36-mm, custom-made,
nitinol wire
stent was inserted into the trachea under fluoroscopic guidance. After
stent placement, intermittent episodes of mild to moderate
dyspnea continued, and these responded to nebulization with a combination of saline,
acetylcysteine, and
dexamethasone. Multiple attempts to wean the patient off nebulization
therapy and to switch to a
corticosteroid-free combination were unsuccessful. The parrot eventually developed complications, was euthanatized, and necropsy was performed. Histologically, the tracheal mucosa had widespread erosion to ulceration, with accumulation of intraluminal exudate and bacteria, severe degeneration of skeletal muscle and tracheal rings, prominent
fibrosis, and mild to moderate, submucosal
inflammation. Clinicopathologic findings in this case suggested
tracheomalacia, which has not been previously described in birds. Custom-made tracheal
stents can be used for severe
tracheal stenosis in birds when tracheal resection and anastomosis is not possible. Complications of tracheal
stent placement in birds may include
tracheitis and
tracheomalacia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of tracheal
stent placement in an avian species.