References
Postoperative care of brachycephalic patients: airway management and cardiovascular support
Abstract
The ownership of brachycephalic pets has increased significantly in recent years. Anatomical abnormalities, alongside a higher incidence of inherited disorders, have contributed to an everincreasing brachycephalic caseload in veterinary practice. With postoperative complications commonplace in such patients, it is essential that the veterinary nurse is familiar with nursing care provision and interventions catering specifically for the brachycephalic patient to improve standards of care and treatment outcomes. Intensive airway management and cardiovascular support are essential for these high-risk patients in the immediate postoperative period. A review of the literature has highlighted the lack of research available for the postoperative care of brachycephalic patients and further studies are recommended.
This article evaluates the current literature sur-rounding the veterinary nurse's role in the post-operative care of the brachycephalic patient – specifically airway management and cardiovascular support.
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in ownership of brachycephalic breeds (British Veterinary Association, 2018). The exaggerated morphological features and related health concerns, alongside a higher incidence of inherited disorders, has contributed to an ever-increasing caseload of brachycephalic patients in practice (O'Neill et al, 2022). Surgical interventions are commonly required in the treatment of disorders such as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), dystocia, dental disease and intervertebral disc disease (Gyles, 2017).
It is well-documented in the literature that complications following surgery in the brachycephalic patient are most likely to occur in the postoperative period (Grubb, 2022) – with higher rates of mortality associated with the performance of airway surgery (Downing and Gibson, 2018). As death is most likely to occur postoperatively within the initial 3 hours of recovery, close monitoring of the patient during this time may reduce mortality rates, while also improving nursing care provision (Crompton and Hill, 2011).
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