This one-day workshop tackled the challenges of managing dogs with Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome, sharpening delegates’ medical and surgical decision-making for these complex, often urgent cases. Attendees dove into the anatomical and pathophysiologic changes associated with BOAS and the surgical techniques used to correct them, alongside pre- and post-operative management of these compromised patients, with plenty of hands-on practice in the wet-lab. By the end of the day, delegates were making confident calls on airway obstruction management, performing pharyngeal and laryngeal examinations, applying the principles of brachycephalic surgery (including knowing when and when not to operate), and confidently performing temporary tracheostomy.
Speaker Biography:
Damian Chase
BVSc, MANZCVS, DECVS
European and NZ Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Damian is a surgical specialist based at Veterinary Specialist Aotearoa in Auckland, New Zealand, and is a co-founder of Practical CPD. He graduated from Massey University in 1997 and spent a number of years in mixed animal practice before he completed his residency in small animal surgery at Glasgow University. Damian gained the Diploma for the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2011.
Damian has a keen interest in all aspects of surgery especially complex fracture fixation and reconstructive surgery. He also enjoys working with wildlife and has operated on a variety of different species such as chimpanzees, giraffes, and seals, including two trips to Cameroon to operate on lowland gorillas.
Brachycephalic Surgery Wet-lab NZ (July 2026)
