title: A Novel Approach to Brachycephalic Syndrome. 1. Evaluation of Anatomical Intranasal Airway Obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate airway obstruction due to abnormal intranasal anatomy in 3 brachycephalic dog breeds using computed tomography and rhinoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 132 brachycephalic dogs (66 Pugs, 55 French Bulldogs, and 11 English Bulldogs) with severe respiratory distress due to brachycephalic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computed tomography and anterior and posterior rhinoscopy were performed to evaluate endonasal obstruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All dogs had abnormal conchal growth that obstructed the intranasal airways. Rostral aberrant turbinates (RAT) were common in Pugs (90.9%) but less frequent in French (56.4%) and English (36.4%) Bulldogs. Caudal aberrant turbinates (CAT) obstructing the nasopharyngeal meatus were commonly found in all breeds (66.7%). Deviation of the nasal septum was an almost consistent finding in Pugs (98.5%) but was less common in bulldogs. Obstructing turbinates had multiple points of mucosal contact responsible for obstruction of the intranasal airway. Interconchal and intraconchal mucosal contacts were evident in 91.7% of dogs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selective breeding for short head conformation reduces the size of the nasal cavities to such an extent that intranasal structures grow aberrantly and malformed, leading to obstructed air conducting spaces. Intranasal airway obstruction of brachycephalic dogs may contribute to their exercise and heat intolerance because of impaired pulmonary ventilation and compromised thermoregulatory functions of the canine nose. Failure to address intranasal obstruction might be an explanation for lack of therapeutic success after conventional surgery for brachycephalic syndrome. Future consideration should be given to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of this newly described aspect of airway obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Department, Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerhard U
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Oechtering
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Department, Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Department, Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schlueter
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Department, Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Johanna P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lippert
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Department, Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Michaele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alef
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Department, Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingmar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Department, Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ludewig
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Department, Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Riccarda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schuenemann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010375:Pedigree; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary