Long-term results of upper respiratory syndrome surgery and gastrointestinal tract medical treatment in 51 brachycephalic dogs.
OBJECTIVE
After a first clinical study showing a high prevalence of gastrointestinal tract diseases in brachycephalic dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome, a prospective study was performed to determine the influence of medical treatment for gastrointestinal tract disorders associated with upper respiratory syndrome surgery.


METHODS
The gastrointestinal tract and respiratory disorders of 61 brachycephalic dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome were evaluated. Together with surgery of the upper respiratory tract, a specific gastrointestinal medical treatment was administered. A minimal follow-up of six months was required for inclusion.


RESULTS
Palatoplasty with rhinoplasty was the most common surgical correction (88.5 per cent). The mortality rate in the perioperative period was 3.3 per cent. Minor complications accounted for 26.2 per cent of cases. No aspiration pneumonia was encountered. A sufficient follow-up was obtained in 51 dogs. The improvement was judged by the owners as excellent or good in 88.3 per cent of the respiratory disorders and in 91.4 per cent of the gastrointestinal disorders. Clinically, a statistically significant improvement was obtained for both respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
In comparison with other studies, digestive tract medical treatment combined with upper respiratory surgery seems to decrease the complication rate and improve the prognosis of dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome.
Poncet
C M
CM
Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Frégis, 43 av. A. Briand, 94110 Arcueil, France.
Dupre
G P
GP
Freiche
V G
VG
Bouvy
B M
BM
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020117:Cisapride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000601:surgery; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000662:veterinary; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009853:Omeprazole; D020117:Cisapride