Ultrasound Evaluation of the Urinary Bladder in Dogs Following Cystotomy with Full Thickness Suture Placement

The purpose of the study reported here is to determine the long-term effect of full thickness suture placement in the urinary bladder following cystotomy as it relates to urinary bladder mucosal changes identified ultrasonographically at the suture placement site. A retrospective search for dogs that had undergone a cystotomy from 6 to 24 mo prior to the study was performed, yielding 31 dogs included in the study. All dogs had the cystotomy closed using full thickness sutures. These dogs underwent an ultrasound of the urinary bladder to evaluate the mucosa at the incision site. Four (12.9%) of the 31 dogs had mucosal lesions consistent with a polypoid mass or masses. None of these four dogs had lesions solely at the previous cystotomy site. This study confirmed our hypothesis of no long-term evidence of mucosal lesions at the previous cystotomy site closed with full thickness sutures. Based on the results, the use of full thickness suture placement for the closure of the urinary bladder following cystotomy does not result in bladder mucosal changes. Other causes of mucosal changes, such as polypoid mass or masses, should be considered if identified on follow-up ultrasound evaluations following cystotomy procedures regardless of closure technique.