ABSTRACT
With the increasing number of brachycephalic animals owned in the UK, it is imperative that clinicians are familiar with the particular requirements for perioperative management in these patients. When anaesthetising brachycephalic patients, it is important to consider their management needs during the entire perioperative period, including pre-anaesthetic assessment and stabilisation, induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia and recovery from anaesthesia and postoperative management. There is no single, perfect anaesthetic protocol for brachycephalic patients; management will be influenced by the patient’s temperament, the presence and severity of concurrent disease, the procedure to be carried out and the individual veterinary surgeon and team involved. This chapter will focus on the considerations prudent to perioperative management in brachycephalic dogs. As well as the inherent problems posed by brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), these dogs are at greater risk of certain concurrent conditions that increase anaesthetic risk; these include gastro-oesophageal reflux, obesity and corneal ulceration. Where feasible, addressing these problems prior to anaesthesia can help reduce overall risk for associated morbidity and mortality. Risk-mitigating actions may include preoperative use of gastroprotectant medication, weight loss and ocular lubrication.
