alt="Photo displaying a cat with a urinary catheter being used to collect an airway sample during a tracheal wash (a). Right lateral radiograph of a cat displaying the intercostal space (asterisk) and carina (C) (b)."/>
Figure 2.3 (a and b) The urinary catheter used to collect an airway sample during a tracheal wash is measured to approximately the fourth rib (*) to avoid passing the catheter beyond the level of the carina (C).
With the endotracheal tube held in place, the polypropylene or red rubber catheter is passed sterilely through the tube to the fourth intercostal space, and the three‐way stopcock with syringe is attached to the outer port. An aliquot of saline (4–6 ml) is instilled into the airway followed by 2–3 ml of air to ensure that all fluid has exited the catheter (Figure 2.4). The stopcock is turned off to the syringe and either hand suction or house suction can be applied to aspirate fluid and cells from the lower airway. Use of a sterile suction trap (Figure 2.5) can be beneficial in collecting the sample when house suction is used. If retrieval of fluid is less than desired, the cuff of the endotracheal tube can be inflated to improve suction. Retrieval of fluid can also be enhanced by having the assistant compress the chest, perform coupage, or stimulate a cough during suction. Instillation and aspiration of fluid can be repeated several times until an adequate sample has been retrieved. Typically ~1.0 ml is sufficient for culture and cytology.
Figure 2.4 A three‐way stopcock is turned on to the urinary catheter used to collect the airway wash and off to the suction catheter.
A modification of the transoral tracheal wash can be performed, which yields a sample more closely approximating that of a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). In the dog, this is achieved using a 16‐French Argyle™ stomach tube (Sherwood Medical Co./Tyco Healthcare Kendall, Deland, FL; Hawkins and Berry 1999). The dog must be large enough to accommodate an endotracheal tube that will not be fully occluded by the stomach tube. The stomach tube is shortened to remove any side holes on the distal end and to create a length that approximates the distance from the endotracheal tube to the last rib. The distal end of the tube can be tapered with a sterile pencil sharpener to improve the ability to wedge within the airway, and the tube should be sterilized prior to use. Endotracheal intubation is carried out using a short‐acting anesthetic agent (e.g. propofol or alfaxalone with midazolam) and a sterile endotracheal tube. The dog is placed in dorsal recumbency, and the modified stomach tube is passed slowly through the lumen of the endotracheal tube until it meets resistance. Gentle pressure should be used when passing and wedging this tube to avoid perforating the lung. As soon as slight resistance is encountered, the tube is withdrawn 1–2 cm and lavage is initiated with 20 ml of sterile saline followed by 5 ml of air. An adaptor might be needed to fit the syringe to the stomach tube. Gentle hand suction is applied to retrieve the fluid, and a second aliquot can be instilled as needed.
Figure 2.5 A suction trap can be secured below the patient during the tracheal wash. One tube is connected to the three‐way stopcock and catheter used for the tracheal wash, while the other is connected to a suction device.
Non‐bronchoscopic BAL has also been reported in the cat, and the cell distribution obtained on cytology matches that found with bronchoscopy (Hawkins et al. 1994). For this procedure, the cat is anesthetized and intubated with a sterile endotracheal tube similar to the method used for a transoral tracheal wash. The cuff is inflated and the cat is placed in lateral recumbency with the most affected side down. Aliquots of warmed sterile 0.9% saline (5 ml/kg, 1–3 aliquots) are instilled directly into the endotracheal tube using a 35 ml syringe with syringe adapter. Fluid is retrieved by hand aspiration. Elevating the hindquarters can facilitate collection, and approximately 65–70% fluid retrieval should be expected. Alternately, a urinary catheter (6–8 French) can be passed gently through a sterile endotracheal tube until resistance is met (Foster et al. 2004), in a manner similar to that employed when a modified stomach tube is used to perform blind BAL in a dog. Instillation and aspiration of 5–10 ml of sterile saline provide an adequate lavage sample for cultures and cytology. With either procedure, respiratory rate and pulse oximetry should be monitored to detect untoward reactions and oxygen supplied as needed. In cats, pre‐treatment with terbutaline (0.01 mg/kg subcutaneously) is recommended prior to any airway procedure.
Transtracheal Wash
Transtracheal wash is appropriate for larger dogs (>8 kg) or those that cannot be anesthetized for a transoral tracheal wash (e.g. an older dog with laryngeal paralysis). Generally only local anesthesia is needed, although mild sedation with acepromazine and butorphanol or a similar short‐acting combination can facilitate completion of the procedure. The animal is in a sitting or standing position with the head held upward and the neck gently extended. Over‐extension of the neck is uncomfortable for the patient and could flatten or tense the trachea, making the procedure more difficult.
Figure 2.6 An over‐the‐needle catheter can be used as a cannula to perform a transtracheal wash using a sterile urinary catheter.
The easiest way to perform a transtracheal wash is to use a 14 or 16 gauge over‐the‐needle catheter as a cannula to penetrate the trachea and a long, sterile 3.5 French urinary catheter to pass down into the airways for sample collection (Figure 2.6). Ensure that the long catheter will pass readily through the short one before starting the procedure. The trachea can be entered at the cricothyroid notch, but it is preferable to enter the trachea lower on the neck between the tracheal rings to avoid potential damage to laryngeal structures (Figure 2.7a). This will also facilitate collection of a sample from more distal airways. Choose a site on the neck where the trachea is easily palpated and can be stabilized against the neck muscles for insertion of the catheter. The ventral portion of the neck is clipped and lightly scrubbed with antiseptic solution followed by alcohol wipes. Local anesthesia with lidocaine (0.25–0.5 ml) is applied at the skin and subcutaneous tissue down to the level of the tracheal rings. A more complete surgical preparation is performed after local anesthesia is instilled.
To begin catheter placement, the skin is tented at the site of lidocaine infusion and the catheter is passed through the skin at a perpendicular angle to the neck, with the bevel of the needle facing downward. If needed, a small stab incision can be made in the skin to facilitate passage of the catheter. When preparing to enter between the tracheal rings, the trachea is firmly stabilized against the neck muscles to prevent it from moving away from the needle. The tracheal rings and annular ligament can often be felt with the tip of the needle, allowing entry directly between the cartilage rings. The trachea is almost directly below the skin and only a minor amount of forward motion is required to enter the lumen. A distinct pop is usually felt when the needle enters the tracheal lumen, and the dog often coughs. With the needle in the airway, the angle between the needle or catheter and the trachea is decreased to 60° to facilitate passage of the catheter down the center of the airway (Figure 2.7b). The needle is withdrawn at this stage to pass the sampling catheter through the short catheter to the level of the carina (
