Cystotomy with and without temporary prepubic foley-catheter implantation for treatment of obstructive urolithiasis in small ruminants; a retrospectiv study

The medical records of seventeen male small ruminants that had been referre d to the Veterinary Teaching Hospitals of Zurich and Bern, Switzerland, bet ween 1992 and 1997, for treatment of obstructive urolithiasis were reviewed and the short-term outcome evaluated. All seventeen animals were treated b y cystotomy and antegrade positive pressure flushing of the urethra. In twe lve animals, a prepubic foley-catheter was additionally implanted temporari ly into the bladder (tube cystotomy for 8 - 12 days; mean = 10 days). Ten o f twelve animals (83 %) with tube cystotomy, but only one of five animals ( 20 %) without tube implantation were released from the clinic. The prepubic catheter allows free flow of urine during the postoperative period until i nflammation of the urethra at the obstruction site has subsided. The result s of this retrospective study suggest, that tube cystotomy as compared to c ystotomy without tube implantation increases the short-term survival rate o f small ruminants with obstructive urolithiasis. Long-term follow-up by telefon conversation with the owners between 2 and 4 years after surgery revealed, that six non castrated animals with tube cys totomy were successfully used for at least one reproduction period and one castrated goat survived for more than 4 years.