TRATAMENTO DA ESTENOSE DE NARINA E PROLONGAMENTO DE PALATO MOLE NA SÍNDROME BRAQUICEFÁLICA UTILIZANDO LASER DE CO2: relato de caso

Abstract

Brachycephalic syndrome is characterized by a set of upper respiratory tract abnormalities that affect dogs of certain breeds. Among the most affected breeds are the English Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Pugs, Pekingese, French Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Shar Pei and Cavalier king Charles Spaniel. The syndrome is composed of primary and secondary anomalies. Among the primaries, we can highlight stenosis of the nostrils, elongated soft palate, aberrant nasal turbinates, macroglossia and tracheal hypoplasia. These abnormalities lead to secondary changes such as everted laryngeal saccules, nasopharyngeal edema and inflammation, laryngeal paralysis and collapse, besides pulmonary hypertension. The combination of stenotic nostrils and stretching of the soft palate leads to obstruction of the upper airways and features chronic shortness of breath and consequent difficulty in exercise, tendency to overheat, increased and abnormal respiratory noise, low levels of oxygen in the blood, and may lead to collapse. The treatment of choice for brachycephalic syndrome is surgical and has a favorable prognosis. Complications associated with surgery include postoperative pharyngeal edema and inflammation, nasal regurgitation from excessive removal of soft palate tissue, and aspiration pneumonia. Due to these factors, the CO2 laser has been increasingly used in the treatment, as they have fewer complications due to postoperative inflammation, reduced anesthetic and surgical time, less hemorrhage and better hemostasis, with no need for sutures, in addition to provide greater analgesic control in the trans and postoperative period. The objective of this work was to carry out a case study demonstrating

the use of CO2 laser in a surgery to correct elongated soft palate and nostril stenosis in a 5-year- old brachycephalic dog that presented signs of dyspnea, snoring, exercise intolerance and choke.

The animal underwent laser rhinoplasty and palatoplasty surgeries and showed significant improvements in clinical signs after surgery, demonstrating the efficacy and safety of the technique used for the surgical treatment of the syndrome, which provided more quality and longer life expectancy for the patient.