ANATOMICAL, RADIOGRAPHIC AND ENDOSCOPIC STUDY OF THE LARYNX AND TRACHEA OF BRACHYCEPHAL AND MESOCEPHALLIC DOGS

• Grant number: 23/03473-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Fabrício Singaretti de Oliveira
• Grantee: Thais Isaias dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brachycephalic syndrome (BS) is characterized by congenital and hereditary abnormalities, which cause an increase in resistance to the passage of air through the airways of short-nosed dogs and cats. The obstructive deformations that make up BS are characterized by the presence of aberrant nasal turbinates, bilateral nostril stenosis, soft palate elongated, tracheal hypoplasia, reduction of the retropharyngeal space, macroglossia, reduction of the oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal space. The objective of this research is to carry out an anatomical, radiographic and endoscopic study of the larynx and trachea of brachycephalic and mesocephalic dogs, in order to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of these animals in the veterinary clinical-surgical routine. We will describe laryngeal innervation, macroscopic and radiographic tracheal and laryngeal arterial vascularization, tracheal innervation, with standardization according to the number of tracheal rings. We will also evaluate the applicability of the anatomical technique used for training in laryngeal and tracheal endoscopy in cases chemically prepared with glycerin ethyl alcohol and pickling salt after 120 days of conservation, and we will check if there is a correlation between the measurements of the skull and the number of tracheal rings, which directly implies the anatomical, arterial and nervous knowledge of the trachea and larynx for surgeries. Dog cadavers will be subjected to endoscopy (laryngotracheobronchoscopy) and the cartilage of the larynx and trachea will be evaluated. Images will be captured by the endoscope and interpreted by a computer program, in which the color tone of the region will be selected and, from this, a colorimetric scale will be developed, to which numerical values will be assigned by the program itself, in order to evaluate and monitor the color changes caused by conservation after 120 days. After endoscopic examination of fresh cadavers, they will be subjected to preparation with glycerin ethyl alcohol and pickling salts, and latex solution with barium sulfate. Afterwards, they will be radiographed in order to verify the arterial radiographic anatomy, in addition to the cervical and thoracic visceral syntopy. It is expected to contribute to better anatomical, radiographic and endoscopic knowledge in brachycephalic and mesocephalic dogs, which is essential for the success of a surgeon's approach. In addition, the proposed chemical conservation should reduce the amount of biological material sent to sanitary disposal, avoiding accumulation of carcasses, contamination of soil and groundwater, reducing impact on the environment, because we will be able to use the same cadaver for different approaches (anatomical, radiographic and endoscopic) for up to 4 months, only kept under refrigeration, being possible to handle it several times and without risk to the researchers involved.Key words: anatomy, cadaver, conservation, embalming