Surgical Interventions for the Brachycephalic Patient

This session will review the pathophysiology of upper airway disease in brachycephalics and discuss the decision making guiding the surgical palliation of this disease. Emergency management of the acutely decompensated brachycephalic will also be discussed.

• Review the primary anatomic abnormalities, effect on the GI tract, and the acquired secondary abnormalities that occur in brachycephalic airway syndrome
• Understand the treatment priorities and management techniques in emergency upper airway obstruction in brachycephalics
• Know the indications and be familiar with some of the options for the various surgical treatments of brachycephalic airway syndrome
• Know the surgical technique for temporary tracheostomy