Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXXI, Issue 2
Written by Cătălin MICȘA, Maria Roxana TURCU, Alexandru Gabriel NEAGU, Nicolae Tiberiu CONSTANTIN, Dorin ȚOGOE, Alexandru DIACONESCU
Diseases affecting the respiratory system are common in veterinary practice. Various diagnostic techniques are used to evaluate patients showing signs of respiratory problems. The trachea, bronchi, and oropharynx can be directly visualized through flexible tracheobronchoscopy, which is a valuable diagnostic instrument for the evaluation and management of feline respiratory diseases. Diagnostic indications encompass the evaluation of traumatic injuries, inflammatory conditions (chronic bronchitis, anthracosis, pneumonia), and structural abnormalities (tracheobronchial collapse, stricture, intraluminal mass). Tracheobronchoscopy uses a variety of airway sampling techniques. Superior efficacy has been demonstrated by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) as a specimen collection method. During the clinical examination of cats exhibiting cough, respiratory distress, or associated symptoms, tracheobronchoscopy was implemented. Airway hyperaemia, stenosis or collapse, mucous accumulation, bronchiectasis, and epithelial abnormalities were evaluated in cats. Cats were classified into categories based on the cytology of the BAL results for bronchitis/asthma, pneumonia, anthracosis, or endobronchial abnormalities. A comparison was made between groups in terms of a collection of bronchial abnormalities and total and differential cell counts. Bronchoscopic abnormalities are frequently seen in felines with lower respiratory tract disease, and airway visualisation offers additional nonspecific clinical insights in cats.
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