Tooth aspiration during intubation in a cat

Authors: Hakim AS, Reakes HM
Publication: Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Volume 54, Issue 4, pp 165-170, Dec 2024
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

Animal type: Cat
Article class: Clinical Article

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Abstract:

Case history: A 5 year old, female spayed Domestic Shorthair cat presented for right sided oral swelling and halitosis.

Clinical findings: After anaesthetic induction, the endotracheal tube made contact with the upper right canine, dislodging and displacing it caudally. Thoracic radiographs revealed that it had been aspirated into the distal trachea. Based on a recent literature review, this is the first reported case of aspiration of a permanent tooth during endotracheal intubation in a cat to the authors’ knowledge.

Treatment and Outcome: The cat was extubated, held vertically with its head facing down and shaken for approximately thirty seconds. The tooth successfully advanced into the larynx where it was retrieved with alligator forceps. The cat recovered uneventfully from anaesthesia and had no related clinical signs at the postoperative examination. To the authors’ knowledge, this technique has never been reported to be successful in peer reviewed literature.

Clinical relevance: Awareness of this rare but significant complication is important for a clinician when performing endotracheal intubation, especially in animals with the presence of oral disease and trauma. Knowledge of both preventative steps and retrieval methods are imperative to reduce the occurrence and management of the life-threatening consequences of tracheobronchial foreign bodies.

Keywords: Endotracheal intubation, intubation, tracheobronchial foreign body, tracheal foreign body, tooth aspiration

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