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Nasopharyngeal Dimensions From Computed Tomography of Pugs and French Bulldogs With Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome
Author(s) -
Heidenreich Dorothee,
Gradner Gabriele,
Kneissl Sibylle,
Dupré Gilles
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/vsu.12418
Subject(s) - soft palate , medicine , airway , skull , hard palate , anatomy , computed tomographic , sinus (botany) , soft tissue , dorsum , orthodontics , dentistry , computed tomography , surgery , biology , botany , genus
Objective To describe the nasopharyngeal airway dimensions of two brachycephalic breeds and to localize the area of smallest airway dimensions. Study Design Prospective, descriptive, computed tomographic imaging study. Animals Thirty pugs and 30 French bulldogs with brachycephalic upper airway syndrome. Methods The thickness and length of the soft palate, cross‐sectional area of the airway passage dorsal to the soft and hard palates, and cross‐sectional area of the frontal sinus were measured and normalized to each dog's skull index and body weight before statistical comparison between breeds. Nasopharyngeal turbinates and surrounding airway space, and a possible relationship between the canine tooth angulation and the severity of airway obstruction were assessed. Results Pugs had significantly smaller cross‐sectional areas of the airway dorsal to the soft and hard palates than French bulldogs. In both breeds, the smallest nasopharyngeal cross‐sectional areas were located dorsal to the caudal end of the soft palate. The soft palate of pugs was significantly shorter than that of French bulldogs and also significantly thinner when normalized to each dog's skull index. Pugs more commonly exhibited nasopharyngeal turbinates. Pugs had significantly smaller air‐filled cavities at the location of the frontal sinus. No correlation between the nasopharyngeal dimensions and canine tooth angulation was observed. Conclusion Computed tomographic assessment of the upper airway morphology showed the smallest nasopharyngeal cross‐sectional areas were located dorsal to the caudal end of the soft palate in both breeds. Pugs had a smaller nasopharyngeal cross‐sectional area despite smaller soft palate dimensions than French bulldogs.