Effect of intraoperative positioning on postoperative neurological status in cats after perineal urethrostomy

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate and quantify the changes in neurological status in cats after perineal urethrostomy performed in dorsal and ventral recumbency. Methods This was a prospective, randomised study. Twenty male castrated cats with feline lower urinary tract disease presented for perineal urethrostomy were enrolled in this study. Surgery was performed in either dorsal recumbency (group A) or ventral recumbency (group B). Motor response of patellar tendon, gastrocnemius muscle, pelvic limb withdrawal and perineal reflexes, as well as the presence of spinal pain in the lumbosacral region, motor function of the tail and faecal continence, were examined before surgery, and 24 h and 14 days after surgery. Results The animals had a mean weight of 5.07 ± 1.08 kg, with a mean age of 6.12 ± 1.85 years. Weight and age were not significantly different between groups A and B (both P = 0.897). All tested parameters of the neurological examination performed prior to surgery were considered normal in both groups ( P = 1). The comparison between neurological examinations (perineal reflex and spinal pain) before and 24 h after surgery revealed a significantly decreased briskness of the perineal reflex and an increased occurrence of spinal pain 24 h after surgery ( P = 0.043 and P = 0.031, respectively). However, the changes of aforementioned parameters were statistically insignificant ( P = 0.249 and P = 0.141) between groups A and B. The other parameters (patellar tendon, pelvic limb withdrawal and gastrocnemius muscle reflexes, motor function of the tail and faecal continence) were statistically insignificant ( P = 1) before surgery and 24 h after surgery, as well as between groups A and B 24 h after surgery. Results of all tested parameters were statistically insignificant ( P = 1) before surgery and 14 days after surgery, as well as between groups A and B 14 days after surgery. Conclusions and relevance The briskness of the perineal reflex was significantly decreased and the occurrence of spinal pain significantly increased 24 h after surgery. A parallel with a low-grade positioning-dependent nerve injury as described in human medicine may be drawn. However, no positioning method was proven to be superior to the other.

Outcomes and postoperative complications after transpelvic urethrostomy used as first-line surgery in 38 male cats with obstructive lower urinary tract disease

“…However, some limitations were highlighted by the authors, such as the lack of statistical significance due to the small population or the relatively low sensitivity of the performed neurological examination. 34 Major short-term complications occurred in 8% of the cats in our study, two of them being an SS. A similar rate (14%) of major short-term complications was reported by Seneviratne et al, all being related to SS.…”

“…However, some limitations were highlighted by the authors, such as the lack of statistical significance due to the small population or the relatively low sensitivity of the performed neurological examination. 34…”

Hochgradige chronische Osteomyelitis des Darmbeines bei einem Alpaka

“…Die exogene Form der Osteomyelitis resultiert meist aus einer direkten Kontamination des betroffenen Knochens infolge eines Traumas (z. B. penetrierende Verletzung) oder einer chirurgischen Intervention und ist häufiger als die endogene Form Ursache bei adulten Tieren 10 . Meist geht mit dem Trauma, wie beispielsweise einer Fraktur oder mit der chirurgischen Intervention, eine Gefäßschädigung einher, die wiederrum zu einer Durchblutungsstörung des betroffenen Knochens und/oder einer Schädigung des umliegenden Gewebes führt.…”