Evaluation of different surgical techniques for the management of bovine obstructive urolithiasis

Abstract

Thirty clinical cases of obstructive urolithiasis in cattle calves were managed by three surgical techniques i.e., tube cystostomy with polyvinyl chloride catheter (group AI), tube cystostomy with Foley’s catheter (group AII) and cystostomy with indwelling urethral catheterization (group B). All the animals were given litholytic agents, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics and urine acidifiers postoperatively. These surgical techniques were evaluated on the basis of time taken for each kind of surgery, initiation/free flow of urine, removal of catheters following free flow urination, postoperative complications and overall success rate. Tube cystostomy with Foley’s catheter was found the quickest and easiest technique. The median time of onset of free flow of urine from the external urethral orifice in the animals of group AI and AII was 9 days with the range of 4-12 and 5-13 days, respectively. The main postoperative complications recorded include: catheter dislodgement (one animal each in all the groups), catheter loss (one animal each in group AI and B), catheter blockade (one animal each in group AI and B and 3 animals in group AII), and urethral rupture (one animal in group AI and 2 animals in group AII). The survival rate was higher in the animals of group A; however, the recovery rate without post operative complications was higher in the animals of group B.