Heart monitoring in French Bulldogs before and after airway surgery

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in 24-hour Holter electrocardiography parameters in French Bulldogs with nostril stenosis and elongated soft palate before and after corrective surgeries. Nine French Bulldogs diagnosed with brachycephalic syndrome (BOAS) were evaluated. Clinical evaluation involved a detailed anamnesis guided by literature-reported clinical signs, followed by a thorough physical examination of both general and respiratory health and a complete screening evaluation and 24-hour Holter electrocardiography. Also, dogs older than 6 years also underwent echocardiography. Assessments were conducted at two time points: initially (pre-surgery) and again between 6 and 12 months postoperatively. After evaluation, animals who were confirmed to have stenotic nares and elongated soft palates and deemed systemically healthy were approved for surgical correction. Examinations performed six months after the rhinoplasty and staphylectomy procedures indicated a persistent high parasympathetic predominance. This study reveals that, even after corrective surgeries for nostril stenosis and elongated soft palate, French Bulldogs with brachycephalic syndrome continue to exhibit a high degree of parasympathetic predominance, which is an important contribution to the limited body of research comparing pre- and post-operative 24-hour Holter electrocardiographic findings in this breed.