Juan Antonio García Maldonado¹, Juan Miguel Ramírez León², Fernando Reina Rodríguez¹

¹Anicura Bahía de Málaga Referencia Veterinaria, Málaga, Spain. ²Juanmi Ramírez Cirugía Veterinaria, Málaga, Spain

Objectives

Transpelvic urethrostomy (TPU) is a salvage procedure described in male cats for treatment of failed perineal urethrostomy (PU) or proximal urethral disease. Stomal stenosis (SS) is a common postoperative complication. The objective of this report is to describe a modified TPU (mTPU) designed to reduce postoperative SS and report outcomes in a cohort of cats.

Methods

Eight male cats (age range 5 months–11 years) were included. Five cats underwent mTPU due to failed PU, two due to suspected congenital urethral malformation, and one with a perineal urethral abscess. Surgery was initially performed following previously described TPU technique. However, complete pelvic symphyseal ostectomy followed by apposition of the adductor muscles dorsal to the intrapelvic urethra was performed to reduce the distance from urethral mucosa to skin to complete the urethrostomy. Short-term (<6 months) and long-term (>18 months) follow-up, including complications, were recorded. Outcomes were classified as excellent, good, or poor based on urinary continence, skin scalding, and stoma patency.

Results

Median follow-up was 32.4 ± 11.7 months. Postoperative complications occurred in three cats. Two cats developed short-term intermittent urinary incontinence. One cat developed a minor suture dehiscence not requiring surgical revision. Gait abnormalities, SS, or persistent urine scalding were not reported in any cat. Surgical revision was not required. Owner-reported outcomes were excellent in seven cats and good in one.

Statement: Impact/ Clinical Significance

The mTPU is a safe, feasible, and effective technique in cats and may help reduce the postoperative complications reported with the traditional TPU.