Long-term results of upper respiratory syndrome surgery and gastrointestinal tract medical treatment in 51 brachycephalic dogs.

OBJECTIVES: After a first clinical study showing a high prevalence of gastrointestinal tract diseases in brachycephalic dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome, a prospective study was performed to determine the influence of medical treatment for gastrointestinal tract disorders associated with upper respiratory syndrome surgery. METHODS: The gastrointestinal tract and respiratory disorders of 61 brachycephalic dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome were evaluated. Together with surgery of the upper respiratory tract, a specific gastrointestinal medical treatment was administered. A minimal follow-up of six months was required for inclusion. RESULTS: Palatoplasty with rhinoplasty was the most common surgical correction (88.5 per cent). The mortality rate in the perioperative period was 3.3 per cent. Minor complications accounted for 26.2 per cent of cases. No aspiration pneumonia was encountered. A sufficient follow-up was obtained in 51 dogs. The improvement was judged by the owners as excellent or good in 88.3 per cent of the respiratory disorders and in 91.4 per cent of the gastrointestinal disorders. Clinically, a statistically significant improvement was obtained for both respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In comparison with other studies, digestive tract medical treatment combined with upper respiratory surgery seems to decrease the complication rate and improve the prognosis of dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal tract lesions in 73 brachycephalic dogs with upper respiratory syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal tract lesions in brachycephalic dogs with upper respiratory tract disease. METHODS: The gastrointestinal tract and respiratory disorders of 73 brachycephalic dogs presented with upper respiratory signs were evaluated. Clinical signs and endoscopic and histological anomalies of the upper digestive tract were analysed. RESULTS: A very high prevalence of gastrointestinal tract problems in brachycephalic dogs presented with upper respiratory problems was observed clinically, endoscopically and histologically. Endoscopic anomalies of the upper digestive tract were present even in dogs without digestive clinical signs. Furthermore, histological evaluation of the digestive tract sometimes showed inflammatory lesions not macroscopically visible at endoscopy. Statistical analysis showed a relationship between the severity of the respiratory and digestive signs. This was significant in French bulldogs, males and heavy brachycephalic dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These observations show a correlation between upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract problems in brachycephalic breeds with upper respiratory disease. Surgical treatment of respiratory disease could improve the digestive clinical signs, and/or gastro-oesophageal medical treatment could improve the outcome for surgically treated brachycephalic dogs.

Thoracoscopic pericardectomy performed without pulmonary exclusion in 9 dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To show the feasibility of thoracoscopic pericardectomy without pulmonary exclusion in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Nine client-owned dogs. METHODS: Dogs referred for the treatment of pericardial effusion by thoracoscopic pericardectomy were intubated with a standard endotracheal tube, mechanically ventilated, and placed in dorsal recumbency. The thoracoscope was introduced into the thorax lateral to the xyphoid process. The operating instruments were inserted at the level of the ventral third of each sixth intercostal space. The pericardium was cut and retrieved through 1 instrument portal. RESULTS: Lung inflation did not interfere with the surgical dissection. A subphrenic pericardectomy was performed in all dogs without iatrogenic trauma. Operative time, from portal placement to skin closure, ranged from 60 to 100 minutes for the first 2 dogs and decreased to 30 to 45 minutes for the latter 7 dogs. CONCLUSIONS: The reported technique avoids the need for selected intubation which requires special tubes, can be technically difficult to perform, and is not recommended in compromised animals in which bilateral lung ventilation is necessary to ensure adequate tissue oxygenation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Thoracoscopic pericardectomy offers several advantages over open techniques, including less postoperative pain and morbidity, shorter hospital stay, and improved cosmetic appearance. It can be performed without pulmonary exclusion.