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OBJECTIVE: To assess results of surgical correction of brachycephalic syndrome (including stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, and everted laryngeal saccules) in dogs and determine whether dogs with hypoplastic trachea have a less favorable long-term outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 62 dogs with brachycephalic syndrome. PROCEDURES: Medical records from 1991 to 2004 were reviewed for information regarding signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, surgery, and long-term outcome. Surgical outcome was rated by owners as excellent, good, fair, or poor. Common abnormalities, treatments, and long-term outcomes among the 62 dogs were assessed. RESULTS: Predominantly affected breeds included English Bulldog, Pug, and Boston Terrier. Elongated soft palate was the most common abnormality (54/62 87.1% dogs); the most common combination of abnormalities was elongated soft palate, stenotic nares, and everted saccules (16/62 25.8% dogs). The English Bulldog was the most common breed for all abnormalities, including elongated soft palate (27/54 50% dogs), stenotic nares (14/36 38.9% dogs), everted saccules (20/36 55.6% dogs), hypoplastic trachea (7/13 53.9% dogs), and laryngeal collapse (2/5 40%). No dogs had everted saccules alone. Outcome did not differ between dogs under-going staphylectomy by use of laser or scissor resection. Follow-up information was obtained for 34 dogs; 16 (47.1%) had an excellent outcome, and 16 (47.1%) had a good outcome. Overall treatment success rate was 94.2%, and overall mortality rate was 3.2%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Surgical treatment of brachycephalic syndrome in dogs appeared to be associated with a favorable long-term outcome, regardless of age, breed, specific diagnoses, or number and combinations of diagnoses.
Riecks et al. (Tue,) studied this question.