Clinical findings and treatment outcomes in cats following percutaneous tube cystostomy

Abstract EN

The objective of the current study was to evaluate clinical findings and treatment outcomes following tube cystostomy as an emergent technique for urine diversion in urine retention in cats.

A total of thirty cats (25 males and 5 females) were studied.

All cats had a history of urine retention for one to three days at the time of its presentation at the clinic, and underwent a minimally invasive surgical tube cystostomy.

The catheter was placed in the bladder lumen and fixed to the skin with a stay suture.

Surgery was performed with the cats in dorsal recumbency on the day of presentation.

Affected male cats showed a significantly higher prevalence (25 vs.

5, P<0.01) compared to female cats (83.3% vs.

16.6%).

Median age of the cats was (4-7 years) (66.6%), and median body weight was (4-8 Kg) (73.3%).

Indications for cystostomy tube placement in the cats were commonly used for obstructive urolithiasis (n = 16), followed by spinal cord trauma (n = 11) and finally urinary tract rupture (n = 3) respectively.

Eight cats had minor complications associated with the cystostomy tube, with the most common being irritation or inflammation around the tube exit site (n = 2), hematuria (n = 2), tube obstruction (1), bandage sores (2), and breakage of the suture securing the tube to the skin (1).

The most common major complication was inadvertent removal of the tube or displacement from the bladder, which occurred in 4 animals.

Surgical tube cystostomy is a more effective emergent solution for complete urethral obstruction in cats.

Using tube cystostomy is a preferred procedure even if it costs more in cats kept indoors for longer periods with the need for maintaining urinary continence and subsequent owner compliance.