Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Breathing stiffness during anesthesia in flat-faced dogs with airway
By Fitzmaurice, Matilda et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2025·Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Static respiratory compliance in anaesthetised and intubated brachycephalic dogs with and without brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 56 brachycephalic dogs, which are breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs, were studied to see how their breathing was affected during anesthesia, especially those with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). The researchers found that dogs with BOAS had lower respiratory compliance, meaning their lungs didn't expand as well, compared to those without BOAS. This difference was significant in various positions the dogs were placed in during the study. The findings suggest that veterinarians should take this reduced lung function into account when using mechanical ventilation for these dogs during surgery.
People also search for: brachycephalic dog breathing problems · anesthesia for bulldog · brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome treatment
Abstract
The impact of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in dogs (BOAS) on respiratory mechanics is unclear and may affect the choice of ventilation strategies during anaesthesia. This prospective study included 56 client-owned brachycephalic dogs, allocated to be BOAS (n = 26) or non-BOAS dogs (n = 30) based on functional grading. All dogs were anaesthetised using a standardised anaesthetic protocol. Pressure-controlled ventilation was initiated around 30 min post-induction, maintaining peak inspiratory pressure at 7-12 cm HO. Static respiratory compliance (Cstat) was recorded at predetermined time points in sternal, right and left lateral recumbency. Thorax dimensions were assessed with a tape measure. Body surface area (BSA) was calculated and the ratio Cstat/BSA used as the main outcome variable. Comparison of means/medians, analysis of proportions, the Spearman correlation coefficient and both logistic and linear regression were used for data analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Non-BOAS dogs showed significantly higher Cstat/BSA compared to BOAS dogs in sternal (41.6 (31.1-51.8) vs. 32.9 (24.4 - 39.2), respectively, P = 0.028), right lateral (36.2 (25.7 - 46.4) vs. 27.0 (22.7 - 35.6); P = 0.026) and left lateral (33.6 (22.6 - 45.5) vs. 24.6 (18.4 - 32.2); P = 0.020) recumbencies. For all dogs, the Cstat/BSA ratio was higher in sternal compared to lateral recumbencies. BOAS dogs had a significantly shorter distance between thoracic inlet and last rib compared to non-BOAS dogs (20 ± 4 vs. 23 ± 6 cm, respectively; P = 0.043). Reduced respiratory compliance in BOAS-affected dogs should be considered during mechanical ventilation.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40374099/