• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.295-298
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• 2017

A 6-year-old female Pekingese dog, weighing 3.85 kg was presented with regurgitation, ptyalism, weight loss and anorexia. The dog was cachexic and severely dehydrated. Physical examination of the dog confirmed upper respiratory noise, which was classified as a stridor most apparent on inspiration, respiratory effort with stenotic nares. Upper respiratory signs were thought to be caused by brachycephalic syndrome. On the lateral thoracic radiograph, the caudal one third of the esophagus was visible as a soft tissue band. CT revealed oval-shaped, soft tissue attenuating mass in size of $2.3{\times}1.0{\times}1.1cm$ arising from caudal one third of the esophagus. The mass was protruding from esophageal wall to lumen and irregular margined with heterogenous contrast enhancement. The wall of cardia and fundus was focally thickened. Gastric lymph node was enlarged with contrast enhancing. On histopathologic examination, esophageal mass was confirmed as papillary adenocarcinoma, and the gastric sample showed the same result. In human, adenocarcinoma commonly occur in esophagus and cardia, but it has not been commonly reported in veterinary medicine. This report described computed tomographic features of adenocarcinoma of the esophagocardia region in a Pekingese dog with brachycephalic syndrome.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.240-245
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• 2022

A 15-year-old, neutered male, Shih-Tzu, was presented at the Chonnam National Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for evaluation of acute onset of persistent coughing, exercise intolerance, and abnormal heart sound. On thoracic auscultation, a split-second heart sound and a wheezing sound were detected on both sides of the chest walls. On physical examination, the dog's body condition score (BCS) was 7/9, and had stenotic nares. Thoracic radiographs revealed right-sided enlargement of the cardiac silhouette (vertebral heart score (VHS) 11.2; reference interval = 8.9-10.1), mild main pulmonary artery (MPA) bulging, mild interstitial infiltration, and hepatomegaly. The electrocardiogram showed right axis deviation, suggesting right ventricular hypertrophy. The echocardiographic study showed moderate pulmonary hypertension and moderate tricuspid regurgitation. There were no findings of a tracheobronchial disease, pulmonary thromboembolism, congenital shunt, left heart disease, or parasitic disease. Based on clinical signs and diagnostic findings, the dog was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension secondary to brachycephalic syndrome. To rectify respiratory exacerbating factors, the dog was recommended weight control by restricting dietary intake and managing concurrent Cushing's syndrome. Treatments included sildenafil, pimobendan, furosemide, and ramipril. After five months of taking medications and weight control, the severity of pulmonary hypertension improved from moderate to mild. The clinical signs of the patient, including coughing and exercise intolerance, improved a lot. For 5 months of follow-up, the patient has not reported further recurrence of respiratory distress.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

The current, retrospective study aimed to assess the short-term prognosis and postoperative complications associated with the surgical correction of elongated soft palate using harmonic scalpel and to compare the postoperative complications associated with the application of harmonic scalpel and traditional surgery using Metzenbaum scissors. Harmonic scalpel was used to perform staphylectomy in 21 dogs. A total of ten dogs underwent sacculectomy; six dogs with harmonic scalpel and four dogs using Metzenbaum scissors. Stenotic nares were corrected by wedge resection. Postoperative complications were recorded through monitoring and radiographic examinations. Telephone interviews were conducted on the first, third, and seventh day after discharge and continued until the resolution of postoperative complications. Postoperative edema at the surgical site was identified and mitigated within a day or two. Snoring and dyspnea improved dramatically in the group that underwent staphylectomy alone. Moreover, three dogs presented with postoperative gastrointestinal complications, especially retching. The symptoms persisted for seven days and ten days in two dogs that underwent sacculectomy with harmonic scalpel and for two days in one dog that underwent sacculectomy with Metzenbaum scissors. The clinical signs and symptoms of brachycephalic syndrome disappeared without recurrence. Harmonic scalpel provides a hemostatic effect during staphylectomy, is convenient, and does not cause postoperative complications. Conversely, the use of harmonic scalpel during sacculectomy necessitated a longer period for the resolution of complications without any significant hemostatic efficacy, compared to traditional surgery.