Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Radiofrequency treatment for long soft palate in dogs compared
By Palierne, Sophie et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2018·A.A.) and Department of Biological and Fundamental Sciences (M.D., France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Plasma-Mediated Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation of Overlong Soft Palate in the Dog: A Pilot Study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of ten dogs with long soft palates, which can cause breathing problems, underwent surgery to remove the excess tissue. Half of the dogs had the traditional surgery where the palate was cut and stitched, while the other half had a newer method using a special wand that ablates (removes) the tissue without stitches. The newer method was quicker and resulted in less tissue damage compared to the traditional approach. While there were some differences in recovery markers, both methods were effective, and the new technique showed promise for future use in dogs with breathing issues related to their soft palates.
People also search for: dog breathing problems surgery · soft palate surgery for dogs · brachycephalic airway obstruction treatment
Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare the clinical, biological, macroscopic, and histologic outcomes after resection of the soft palate by plasma-mediated bipolar radiofrequency ablation (PBRA) or traditional incisional techniques (incisional soft palate resection [INC]) in dogs. Ten dogs were divided in two groups. In the INC group, the soft palate was incised with scissors and the wound was sutured in a continuous pattern. In the PBRA group, a wand was used to ablate the desired portion of the soft palate, without suture. Clinical, biological, macroscopic, and histologic assessments were scheduled over 14 days. The duration of surgery was significantly shorter for the PBRA group. The C-reactive protein concentrations were significantly higher in the PBRA group at 6 hr and on day 3 (P < .05) but with values very close to the baseline. C-reactive protein concentrations were maximal, but with low values (<25 mg/L), at day 1 for both techniques. The irregularity scores for the soft palate caudal border on days 1, 3, and 14 were significantly higher in the INC group than in the PBRA group (P < .05). The main histopathologic changes were the presence of superficial granulomas and a significantly greater depth of tissue damage in the INC group (2.5 ± 0.3 mm) compared with the PBRA group (1.5 ± 0.1 mm; P < .05). PBRA compared favorably with the traditional technique in terms of ease, duration of surgery, and depth of tissue damage. Future studies are warranted to validate its effectiveness for treating brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30040441/