Evaluation of urethral stent placement for benign urethral obstructions in dogs.
J Vet Intern Med 2014;
28:1384-90. [PMID:
25066355 PMCID:
PMC4895573 DOI:
10.1111/jvim.12412]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Revised: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Benign urethral obstructions (BUO) in dogs result in substantial morbidity because of challenges with conventional therapies. Treatment of malignant urethral obstructions with intraluminal urethral stents is reported to successfully relieve obstructions.
Hypothesis/Objectives
To evaluate the efficacy and outcome of urethral stent placement for treatment of BUO in dogs.
Animals
Eleven client‐owned animals with urethral stents placed for treatment of BUO.
Methods
Retrospective study in which medical records were reviewed in dogs diagnosed with BUO and treated with a metallic urethral stent. Data collected included signalment, cause of benign obstruction, procedure time, size and type of stent, complications, and short‐ and long‐term outcome.
Results
Eleven dogs with 15 urethral stents were included. Intraluminal urethral stent(s) relieved the obstructions in all dogs. Four dogs had 2 stents placed in separate procedures because of incomplete patency after treatment (n = 1), inadvertent compression of the stent (n = 1), or tissue ingrowth through the stent (n = 2). The median continence score after stent placement was 10 of 10 (range 3–10) with 6 dogs being continent, 3 mildly incontinent, and 1 each moderately and severely incontinent. All owners considered their dog to have an excellent long‐term clinical outcome with long‐term urethral patency. The median follow‐up time was 24 months (range 4–48).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
Urethral stents appear to be an effective treatment for benign urinary obstructions. Moderate to severe incontinence developed in a minority (12.5%) of dogs. Stents relieved obstructions in all dogs with an excellent long‐term outcome.
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