Radiographic diagnoses in 80 cats before and 73 cats after unobstructing the urethra

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate causes for feline urethral obstruction and determine whether the frequency of radiographic diagnoses differs between cats radiographed before or after unobstruction of the urethra. Materials and Methods A retrospective cross‐sectional study of cats with naturally occurring urethral obstruction was performed. Only cats presenting for their first urethral obstruction in which radiography was integrated in the initial evaluation were included. The diagnosis frequency (overall and for each disease type) was compared between cats radiographed before or after unobstruction of the urethra. Results Eighty cats (52%) had radiographs obtained before unobstructing the urethra and 73 cats (48%) had radiographs taken after unobstructing the urethra. Cats radiographed before unobstruction had a greater frequency of radiographic diagnoses than those radiographed after unobstruction (61% versus 45%). This difference was largely due to a greater frequency of urethral plugs detected before unobstruction versus after unobstruction (45% versus 5.5%). Clinical Significance Radiographs obtained before unobstructing the urethra provided a diagnostic advantage for detecting a cause for urethral obstruction compared to radiographs obtained after unobstructing the urethra. Urethral plugs were the most common diagnosis.

Resolution of urethral obstruction using temporary urethral stents in two female cats

“… 1 , 2 Neutered male cats with urethral plugs, uroliths or idiopathic disease are predisposed to UO. 1 – 5 There is minimal information regarding female cats with UOs, including cases following laser lithotripsy and basket retrieval of uroliths. The following report describes two cases of UO following minimally invasive urolith removal that were successfully managed with a novel temporary urethral stent.…”

Evaluation of urine cultures obtained by cystocentesis from cats with urethral obstruction at the time of hospital admission and after urethral catheterization

“…Underlying causes associated with this disease include urolithiases, urethral plugs, strictures and neoplasia, extra luminal compression, bacterial urinary tract infection, and idiopathic conditions (Swalec et al, 1989;Reche Jr et al, 1998;Gerber et al, 2005Gerber et al, , 2008Eggertsdóttir et al, 2007;Saevik et al, 2011;Young et al, 2021). Previous studies reported different positive bacterial urine culture frequencies in cats with UO at presentation, considering different populations and different methods of urine collection (Table 1).…”