BRACHYCEPHALIC AIRWAY-OBSTRUCTION SYNDROME - A REVIEW OF 118 CASES

The medical records of 118 dogs with brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome (BAOS) were analyzed for clinical features common to dogs pr esented with this disease. Questionnaires from 56 owners describing th eir dog's response to surgery were studied in detail. The clinical sig ns ranged from mild signs such as stertorous breathing and snoring to acute collapse. The mean age of all dogs presented for BAOS 3.2 years. The breed commonly seen was the English Bulldog (EB) followed by the Pug, Boston Terrier and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Soft palate elongation was seen in 101 dogs, 56 if which had concurrent stenotic nares. Everted saccules were seen in 54 dogs. Aspiration pneumonia was diagnosed in 16/118 dogs. Six were diagnosed preoperatively and the r emaining 10 were postoperative events. The response to surgery in 56 d ogs was classified as excellent in 17 dogs, good in 16 and poor in 23. The number of EB that had a poor response to surgery was 55% compared to all other breeds combined (33%). Dogs having stenotic nares as par t of the BAOS responded better than those dogs with soft palate elonga tion alone. Only 40% of dogs with everted saccules as part of the BAOS did well following surgery. Eight of 56 dogs undergoing surgery died postoperatively with an overall mortality rate of 14%. Aspiration pneu monia was the cause of death in six of these dogs. Five of these were the EB breed. This represents a twofold increase in mortality rates in this breed when compared to all other breeds dying of aspiration pneu monia. Risk of aspiration pneumonia may be reduced in the EB by placin g these dogs on weight-reducing diets before surgery, careful evaluati on of esophageal function, fasting for 24 hours before surgery and the use of prokinetic agents and systemic antacids prior to surgery.