Cross-sectional Imaging of the English Bulldog

Cross-sectional Imaging of the English Bulldog
By:"Eric T. Hostnik"
Published on 2016 by

Part 1. Computational Fluid Dynamics Using Computed Tomography to Assess Airway Resistance in English Bulldogs. Obstructive airway disease is common in brachycephalic dogs. Stenotic nares, edematous intranasal turbinates, mucosal swelling, and an elongated, thickened soft palate are sources of airflow resistance. Surgery has traditionally focused on resection of excessive nares and soft palate, without objective measures to validate efficacy. Twenty-one non-operated brachycephalic dogs were recruited for this pilot study. A 128 multi-detector computed tomography (MD-CT) scan was performed in all dogs, from rostral nares to diaphragm (SOMATOM Definition Flash; Siemens Healthcare). MD-CT examinations were performed using conscious sedation and without endotracheal intubation. Raw MD-CT data were imported into ScanIP software (Simpleware, Version 7.0) to render a three-dimensional surface mesh model by automatic segmentation using -1024 to -450 Hounsfield units to isolate the air-filled nasal passage from the nares to the caudal soft palate. Three-dimensional surface models were then imported into COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0 with MATLAB (COMSOL, Inc., Version 5.0.1.276) for computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling and calculation of airway resistance. The nasal passages were modeled and airway resistance calculated in all dogs. Airway resistance varied widely; mean and SD of 9,859.19 +/- 12,818.53 Pa/L/s. Airway resistance did not correlate with age (r = 0.344, P = 0.126) or weight (r = -0.058, P = 0.803). In 19/21 dogs, the rostral third of the nasal passage showed the greatest step-up of airflow resistance. The remaining 2/21 dogs, the caudal third of the nasal passage showed the greatest resistance with the greatest increase identified at the caudal portion of the soft palate. Computational fluid dynamics derived from nasal MD-CT can quantify airway resistance in dogs. This methodology may have utility for objectively studying surgical interventions in canine brachycephalic airway syndrome.

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