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Miller et al: Complications and outcome following staphylectomy and folded flap palatoplasty in dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
Veterinary Surgery 8, 2024

🔍 Key Findings

  • FFP resulted in longer median surgery (75 min) and anesthesia (111 min) durations than S (51 min and 80 min, respectively).
  • No significant difference in anesthetic complications, regurgitation, aspiration pneumonia, or hospitalization time between S and FFP.
  • Major complications were rare (4%) and equally distributed between procedures; included tracheostomy and euthanasia due to severe airway disease.
  • Postoperative oxygen use was common (52% of dogs) but not significantly different between procedures.
  • FFP dogs more often had laryngeal collapse (especially Grade 1: 68% vs. 32% in S dogs).
  • Most dogs (85%) had concurrent nares surgery, with caudal wedge resection more frequent in FFP dogs.
  • Few dogs needed revision soft palate surgery (7/124 total); similar between groups.
  • Postoperative clinical signs improved across both procedures; regurgitation was the most persistent sign post-op.

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← Articles

Miller et al: Complications and outcome following staphylectomy and folded flap palatoplasty in dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
Veterinary Surgery 8, 2024

🔍 Key Findings

  • FFP resulted in longer median surgery (75 min) and anesthesia (111 min) durations than S (51 min and 80 min, respectively).
  • No significant difference in anesthetic complications, regurgitation, aspiration pneumonia, or hospitalization time between S and FFP.
  • Major complications were rare (4%) and equally distributed between procedures; included tracheostomy and euthanasia due to severe airway disease.
  • Postoperative oxygen use was common (52% of dogs) but not significantly different between procedures.
  • FFP dogs more often had laryngeal collapse (especially Grade 1: 68% vs. 32% in S dogs).
  • Most dogs (85%) had concurrent nares surgery, with caudal wedge resection more frequent in FFP dogs.
  • Few dogs needed revision soft palate surgery (7/124 total); similar between groups.
  • Postoperative clinical signs improved across both procedures; regurgitation was the most persistent sign post-op.

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Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In Miller 2024 et al., on surgical comparison of staphylectomy vs. FFP, which of the following was true regarding anesthetic complications?

A. They were more frequent in FFP cases
B. They occurred in less than 10% of cases
C. Hypothermia and hypotension were the most common types
D. Only dogs with regurgitation experienced complications
E. Folded flap palatoplasty always required tracheostomy

Answer: Hypothermia and hypotension were the most common types

Explanation: Despite similar complication rates between groups, hypothermia and hypotension were most frequently reported.
In Miller 2024 et al., on surgical comparison of staphylectomy vs. FFP, which outcome was significantly associated with folded flap palatoplasty?

A. Increased hospitalization time
B. More anesthetic complications
C. Lower rate of revision surgery
D. Longer anesthesia and surgery times
E. Higher postoperative regurgitation rate

Answer: Longer anesthesia and surgery times

Explanation: FFP was associated with significantly longer operative and anesthetic durations compared to staphylectomy.
In Miller 2024 et al., on surgical comparison of staphylectomy vs. FFP, what was the most common postoperative complication overall?

A. Vomiting
B. Hypoxemia
C. Collapse
D. Aspiration pneumonia
E. Regurgitation

Answer: Regurgitation

Explanation: Regurgitation occurred in 27 dogs postoperatively and was the most commonly reported minor complication.
In Miller 2024 et al., on surgical comparison of staphylectomy vs. FFP, which airway abnormality was more common in FFP dogs?

A. Everted tonsils
B. Stenotic nares
C. Grade 1 laryngeal collapse
D. Grade 3 laryngeal collapse
E. Elongated soft palate

Answer: Grade 1 laryngeal collapse

Explanation: Grade 1 collapse was significantly more common in FFP dogs (68%) than in staphylectomy dogs (32%).
In Miller 2024 et al., on surgical comparison of staphylectomy vs. FFP, which breed most frequently underwent a folded flap palatoplasty?

A. Pug
B. English Bulldog
C. Boston Terrier
D. French Bulldog
E. Boxer

Answer: French Bulldog

Explanation: Among 54 French Bulldogs in the study, a slight majority received FFP (53.7%) compared to staphylectomy.

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