Resident Veterinarian in Internal Medicine Schwarzman Animal Medical Center New York, NY, United States
Abstract: Background – Standard therapy for esophageal strictures typically involves dilation using balloon catheters, bougies, or endoscope tips, however there are no standard recommendations for dilation diameter. To our knowledge, there is no data in the veterinary literature describing esophageal diameters in a population of dogs and cats. Hypothesis/Objectives – To describe the post-mortem esophageal diameters of a population of client-owned dogs and cats without esophageal disease. Animals – 262 dog and 90 cat cadavers euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study and without any history of esophageal disease who had an autopsy performed. Methods – This was a prospective study (February 2013 to September 2020). The cadaver esophagus was removed, and the widths were measured in three regions of the closed esophagus which were then converted to diameters (D) (D=C/3.14). Results – Canine esophageal diameters (Median 15.9-17.8mm; Range 8-31mm) were positively correlated with weight at all 3 locations (p< 0.001), but cats (Median 9.6-11.1mm; Range 5-17mm) were not. Among all dog and cat breeds, there was a significant difference between proximal, mid- and distal esophageal diameters (p< 0.001), with the average esophagus increasing in diameter moving aborally. Conclusions and Clinical Importance – Esophageal diameter varies considerably among both dogs and cats, with body weight, breed, and location being critical determinants. While these findings do not preclude the need for accurate measurements prior to an intervention, the data gathered guides more informed decisions and equipment needs for the management of esophageal strictures.
