Treatment of canine asthma by high selective vagotomy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of high selective bilateral vagotomy of hilus pulmonis with video-assisted thoracoscopy on asthma. METHODS: Eight dogs with skin sensitive to Ascaris suum antigens were randomly divided into groups A and B. Asthma was induced by aerosol inhalation of A suum antigens. Respiratory rate and peak airway pressure were significantly increased (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.05) in both groups. Dynamic compliance was dramatically increased (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.05) in both groups. Two days later, bilateral vagotomy of hilus pulmonis under thoracoscopic guidance was performed on dogs in group A; dogs in group B underwent bilateral sham vagotomy plus thoracoscopy. Five days after treatment, all dogs had rechallenge with a second aerosol inhalation. RESULTS: Dogs in group A did not show typical asthmatic symptoms, and no significant changes were found in respiratory rate, peak airway pressure, and dynamic compliance (P > .05). Dogs in group B still had typical symptoms, and respiratory rate and peak airway pressure were increased and dynamic compliance decreased significantly (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.05 for all). Significant differences in respiratory rate, peak airway pressure, and dynamic compliance were observed between groups. Moreover, inflammatory cells in the lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of group A were dramatically reduced relative to group B (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;.05). There were no significant changes in heart rate and mean arterial pressure after vagotomy, indicating that vagotomy did not affect the cardiac plexus of vagus. CONCLUSIONS: High selective bilateral vagotomy of hilus pulmonis with thoracoscope can effectively control asthma in dogs.