Folded-flap palatoplasty performed with a needle-tip monopolar cautery: retrospective cohort of 66 brachycephalic dogs.

Needle-tip monopolar cautery for palatoplasty is safe with excellent long-term outcomes in brachycephalic dogs.

This retrospective cohort study evaluated outcomes of folded-flap palatoplasty using needle-tip monopolar electrocautery in 66 brachycephalic dogs presenting to a referral hospital between 2019-2024. All dogs underwent standardized multilevel airway surgery including palatoplasty, rhinoplasty, ala-vestibuloplasty, and tonsillectomy as indicated. Mean anesthetic time was 84±17.59 minutes with a 9% intraoperative complication rate. Postoperative complications occurred in 25.7% of cases (19.7% minor; 6% mortality), with notably zero surgical wound complications. At 6-week follow-up, significant functional improvement in brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome grades was documented. Long-term telephone follow-up at median 19 months revealed 94.3% owner satisfaction with 86.4-92.8% of dogs demonstrating excellent respiratory and gastrointestinal improvements. The study demonstrates that needle-tip monopolar electrocautery is a safe hemostatic technique for palatoplasty, producing acceptable complication rates and favorable clinical outcomes without increasing postoperative morbidity.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.