Combined CO2 laser staphylectomy and endoscopic balloon dilation for treatment of complete nasopharyngeal stenosis in a cat

초록

Nasopharyngeal stenosis (NPS) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening condition in cats, capable of causing complete upper airway obstruction in severe cases. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser staphylectomy provides precise tissue ablation with minimal collateral thermal injury; however, restenosis could occur when used as a sole treatment modality. Balloon dilation can temporarily restore luminal patency, yet recurrence rates remain high when performed alone. This report describes an 8-month-old Korean Shorthair cat with complete nasopharyngeal stenosis that underwent CO₂ laser ablation as an initial intervention, followed by rapid restenosis within three days. A second procedure combining CO₂ laser ablation with endoscopic balloon dilation achieved short-term maintenance of nasopharyngeal patency. These findings suggest that, in cases of complete stenosis with a high risk of recurrence, a multimodal approach may be more effective than single-modality treatment.

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