Subcutaneous ureteral bypass device placement in 81 cats with benign ureteral obstruction (2013-2018)

Benign ureteral obstructions (BUOs) present a therapeutic challenge in cats.

The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome and complications associated with placement of subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) device in cats.

Eighty-one client-owned cats (117 kidneys) with BUO treated by placement of a SUB.

Retrospective study. Medical records of cats with BUO and treated by SUB device placement between 2013 and 2018 were reviewed. Outcome and complications were documented.

Hospital discharge rate was 94% (76/81). Serum creatinine on admission and at the time of discharge was 5.3 mg/dL (range, 1.2 to >15 mg/dL) and 2.1 mg/dL (range, 1.1-12.5 mg/dL), respectively. Luminal obstructions were documented in 17% (18/109) of the SUB devices of 16 cats discharged from the hospital. Infection was documented in 26% (20/76) of discharged cats. Kink of the device was documented in 10% (12/117) of devices. Time to luminal obstruction and kink were 204 days (range, 21-1678 days) and 58 days (range, 2-601 days), respectively. Fourteen of 81 (17%) cats required a revision surgery in order to restore patency of the device. At the time of writing, 53% (43/81) of cats were alive, with a mean survival time of 821 days (range, 1-2170 days) after surgery. Of those that died, 52% (20/38) died of urinary related causes.

This study suggests that SUB device placement is associated with good outcomes and could be considered for the treatment of BUO in cats.