Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Laser surgery helps breathing in pugs and bulldogs with airway
By Liu, Nai-Chieh et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2019·Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Objective effectiveness of and indications for laser-assisted turbinectomy in brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of pugs and French bulldogs suffering from breathing problems due to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) underwent a procedure called laser-assisted turbinectomy (LATE) after not improving with standard surgery. The dogs showed a significant decrease in their breathing difficulty after LATE, with many experiencing temporary reverse sneezing and nasal noise during excitement. This treatment was particularly effective for those with certain intranasal abnormalities, and the amount of soft tissue in their nasal passages helped determine if they were good candidates for the procedure. Overall, LATE provided relief for these dogs who had not responded well to earlier treatments.
People also search for: pug breathing problems treatment · French bulldog airway surgery · laser treatment for dog breathing issues
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of laser-assisted turbinectomy (LATE) in treating brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and to investigate the potential indications. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Client-owned pugs, French bulldogs, and English bulldogs (n = 57). METHODS: A BOAS index was obtained from whole-body barometric plethysmography before BOAS conventional multilevel surgery (CMS) and 2-6 months post-CMS. Dogs with BOAS index >50% and BOAS functional grades II-III after CMS were considered candidates for LATE. A BOAS index was repeated 2-6 months after LATE. Intranasal lesions and a measurement of soft tissue proportion at the rostral entrance of choanae (STC) were recorded on the basis of computed tomography images. Logistic regressions were used to assess the intranasal predictors for being LATE candidates. RESULTS: Twenty-nine of 57 dogs were candidates for LATE, all of which were pugs or French bulldogs. The median BOAS index of dogs that were operated on (20/29 candidates) decreased from 67% post-CMS to 42% after LATE (P < .001). Soft tissue proportion at the rostral entrance of choanae was the only predictor for candidacy for LATE. Pugs (P = .021; cutoff = 64%) and French bulldogs (P = .008; cutoff = 55%) with higher STC were more likely to be candidates for LATE. After LATE, 12 of 20 dogs had temporary episodes of reverse sneezing, and nasal noise was noted in 8 of 20 dogs when sniffing and excited. CONCLUSION: Laser-assisted turbinectomy was an effective treatment for dogs with intranasal abnormalities and a poor response to CMS. Soft tissue proportion at the rostral entrance of choanae was a predictor of candidacy for LATE in pugs and French bulldogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Computed tomography-based measurement of STC can be used to predict whether LATE is required in addition to CMS in pugs and French bulldogs with BOAS.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30303538/