Surgical repair and subsequent stent placement following traumatic trans‐rectal urethral transection in a dog

Abstract

A one‐year‐old male castrated Australian Shepherd presented for rectal trauma after falling into bushes. A 10‐cm long segment of tissue protruded from the anus, and there were no other visible injuries. Abdominal radiographs showed intrapelvic and perirectal subcutaneous emphysema extending into fascial planes of the right hindlimb. Exploratory surgery was performed, and the tissue protruding out of the anus was identified as proximal urethra extending through a 6 cm longitudinal tear in the ventral rectal wall. Urethral debridement and anastomosis were performed, and the rectal wall repaired. A urinary catheter was in place for 5 days postoperatively. The patient had intermittent episodes of stranguria and pollakiuria and multi‐drug resistant urinary tract infection (Enterococcus faecium) cultured. A pelvic urethral stricture was diagnosed on contrast cystourethrogram, and a nitinol stent placed under fluoroscopic guidance. Sporadic haematuria was observed, which was resolving in a few months. Urethral stent placement provided successful long‐term outcome.

Preputial urethrostomy with preservation of the local anatomy in 4 dogs

“…14 The duration of postoperative urinary catheterization differed between dogs in our study. The duration of catheterization to treat a urethral tear is controversial, 15 with recommendations varying between 5 16 and 21 days. 17 These guidelines concern healing time after urethral tear and not after anastomosis.…”