Background
The maxillary block is a commonly used anaesthetic technique in dogs; however, no universal recommendations for the best method to perform this block exist. Differences between using this block in brachycephalic and non‐brachycephalic breeds have not been examined. This study compared the position of the maxillary nerve using CT in brachycephalic and non‐brachycephalic dogs.
Methods
Forty CT images of the heads of dogs of varying conformation were analysed. The distances and angles to the maxillary nerve from the injection site within the oral cavity were measured. If present in the same plane, the distance to the eye was measured. Measurements of jaw width and length were taken to ascertain if they correlated to the distance to the maxillary nerve from the oral cavity.
Results
There was no difference in angle between brachycephalic and non‐brachycephalic dogs; however, the distance between nerve and injection point in brachycephalic dogs was generally greater. A regression equation relating maxillary nerve depth to jaw width was found. The eye was more likely to be in the plane of injection if the dog was non‐brachycephalic.
Conclusion
The discovered relationship between jaw width and maxillary nerve depth may allow more accurate injections to be made.
This report describes the management of an obese pug that became hypoxaemic during anaesthesia. The cause of the hypoxaemia was diagnosed ultimately as endobronchial intubation, which was corrected before recovery. The hypoxaemia was mistakenly attributed to a combination of obesity and aspiration pneumonia. The reasons for the initial misdiagnosis are presented. Although the pug made a full recovery, the sequelae of endobronchial intubation are potentially serious and the condition should be recognised.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.