Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery options for urethral prolapse in male dogs and outcomes
By Grewal, Manraj K et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2024·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Assessment of Combined Resection-Anastomosis and Urethropexy in Dogs with Urethral Prolapse.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of male dogs with urethral prolapse, a condition where the urethra protrudes outside the body, underwent surgery to fix the problem. Some dogs had a standard surgical repair, while others received a combination of two techniques: resection-anastomosis (removing the affected part and reconnecting the urethra) and urethropexy (stitching the urethra in place). The dogs that had the combined surgery had a much lower chance of the problem coming back, with only 8% experiencing recurrence compared to 48% for the standard repair. This suggests that the combined approach may be more effective in preventing future issues.
People also search for: dog urethral prolapse surgery · dog urethra problem treatment · male dog surgery recovery
Abstract
The literature regarding surgical repair of urethral prolapse in dogs is limited and associated with a high recurrence rate. We hypothesized that combined resection and anastomosis (R&A) with urethropexy would be associated with less recurrence of urethral prolapse compared with R&A alone. Medical records of dogs managed surgically for urethral prolapse were reviewed (2013-2023) from three tertiary care hospitals. Inclusion criteria included complete medical records, including surgery reports, short-term postoperative complications, and longer-term follow-up. Forty-six male dogs successfully met the inclusion criteria (16 castrated; 30 intact). Brachycephalic breeds were overrepresented (37/46, 80%). Surgical repair by R&A alone (n = 27), urethropexy alone (n = 6), or a combined R&A and urethropexy (n = 13) was performed. Recurrence rates for these techniques were 13/27 (48%), 2/6 (33%), and 1/13 (8%), respectively. The recurrence rate of urethral prolapse treated by a combined R&A and urethropexy was significantly lower (P < .05) than R&A alone, despite more dogs being overweight and less surgeon experience (each P < .05). Interestingly, dogs neutered before initial diagnosis may be more likely to have postoperative recurrence. Considering general anesthesia risks, an initial combination procedure for urethral prolapse may help prevent recurrence.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39235784/