Lecture 10: Brachycephalic Syndrome (Exam 2) Flashcards
(56 cards)
Describe brachycephalic breeds
- Have compressed face w/ poorly dev nares & a distorted nasopharynx
- Head shape is the result of an inherited dev defect in the bones of the base of the skull
- Head bones grow to a norm width but have been reduced in length
- Soft tissues of the head are not proportionately reduced & often appear redundant
List breeds that are typically affected
- English bulldogs
- French bulldogs
- Pug
- Boston terrier
- Shar pei
- Cavalier king charles spaniel
- Lhasa apso
- Shih tzu
- Boxer
- Pekingese
Define brachycephalic syndrome
The combo of the surgically addressable conditions causing upper airway obstruction in brachycephalic breeds
What are the major components of brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS)
- Stenotic nare
- Elongated soft palate
- Everted laryngeal saccules
What are a associated conditions w/ BAS
- Laryngeal collapse
- Hypoplastic trachea
- Nasopharyngeal turbinates
- Tracheal collapse
- Tonsil eversion
What are some other abnorms that may cause or contribute to upper respiratory obstruction in brachy breeds
- Tracheal collapse
- Obesity
- Laryngeal paralysis
- Masses obstructing the glottis, larynx, or trachea
- Traumatic disruption of the airway
What are stenotic nares
- Congenital malformations of the nasal cartilages that result in medial collapse &/or partial occlusion of the external nares
- Airflow into the nasal cavity is restricted & greater inspiratory effort is necessary (causes mild to severe dyspnea)
How can stenotic nares cause the airway to narrow more
As more & more neg pressure is exerted to breathe, intratracheal & intrapharyngeal pressure become high enough to cause surrounding tissue to collapse
How are stenotic nares corrected
- Removal of the alar folds
- Recession wedge
What is the most common component of BAS
Elongated soft palate
Why is an elongated soft palate a problem
- Soft palate is pulled caudally during inspiration & obstructs the glottis (increases inspiratory effort & causes more turbulent airflow)
- Laryngeal mucosa becomes inflamed & edematous (narrows the airway even more)
What is considered the first stage of laryngeal collapse & is reported in over half of dogs w/ BAS
Everted laryngeal saccules
What do everted laryngeal saccules partially or completely obscure
The vocal folds
What is hypoplastic trachea
- Congenital tracheal stenosis that affects the entire length of the trachea
- Associated w/ cont. respiratory distress, coughing, & recurrent tracheitis
- Can be tolerated in the absence of concurrent respiratory/ CV dx
How can hypoplastic trachea be Dxed
Radiographically by determining the tracheal to thoracic inlet diameter ratios
What is the typical hx of a dog w/ BAS
- Noisy breathing
- Varying levels of respiratory distress
- Frequent retching or gagging
- Trouble swallowing b/c of thick saliva or occlusion of the airway
- Concurrent GI signs
- Exercise intolerance
- Cyanosis
- Restless sleeping
- Collapse
What can make clinical sx of BAS worse
- Excitement
- Stress
- Increased heat & humidity
What causes stertor & stridor
Complete or partial obstruction in the airway
Describe stertor
- Low pitched sound
- Results from flaccid tissue vibrating through the respiratory cycle
- Sounds like a snore
Describe stridor
- High pitched sound
- Results from rigid tissue vibrations
- Typically assoc w/ laryngeal/tracheal dx
T/F: Some, all, or none of the BAS clinical sx maybe present upon PE
True
What are some sx that can be seen on the PE of a dog w/ BAS
- Pharyngeal & laryngeal auscultation = stretor & inspiratory stridor
- Inspiratory effort sx
- Mucous membrane sx (norm color, pale, or cyanotic)
- Restless & anxious (esp when restrained)
- Hyperthermia b/c of ineffective cooling
- GI tract distension
List the sx of increased inspiratory effort
- Retraction of lip commissures
- Open mouth breathing
- Constant panting
- Forelimb abduction
- Exaggerated use of abdominal muscles
- Paradoxical movement of the thorax & abdomen
- Recruitment of acc. respiratory muscle
- Inward collapse of the ICS & thoracic inlet
- Orthopneic posture
What is orthopneic posture
Extended head & neck w/ reluctance to lie down