Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cystotomy surgery in pets - what to know about risks and practices
By Appel, Sherry et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2012·Ontario Veterinary College, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cystotomy practices and complications among general small animal practitioners in Ontario, Canada.
Plain-English summary
Cystotomy is a surgery often performed on pets to remove bladder stones or treat other urinary issues. A survey of 106 veterinarians in Ontario found that while most follow standard practices, some are not using pain relief and antibiotics as recommended, and there are inconsistencies in how they perform the surgery. Interestingly, some practices that are usually advised, like using certain types of sutures or making specific incisions, were linked to fewer urinary infections after surgery. This suggests that some veterinarians may need to review and improve their surgical techniques and post-operative care. Overall, the study highlights the need for better adherence to established guidelines to ensure the best outcomes for pets undergoing cystotomy.
Abstract
Cystotomy is a common surgical procedure in small animal veterinary medicine, yet common pre-, intra-, and post-operative practices have not been described. This survey evaluated cystotomy practices of 106 veterinarians in Ontario. The majority of respondents reported practices consistent with standard recommendations, but some deficiencies in antimicrobial and analgesic use, as well as intra- and post-operative practices, were identified. Some factors associated with the likelihood that practitioners reported recurrent urolithiasis or urinary tract infection are contrary to typical recommendations, such as the association of the use of absorbable, multifilament suture or a dorsal (versus ventral) incision and a lesser likelihood of reporting post-operative urinary tract infections. While care must be taken interpreting these statistical associations, the results suggest that objective assessment of common cystotomy recommendations (use of monofilament, absorbable suture) is required. Re-assessment of certain peri-operative practices, such as analgesic and antimicrobial administration, and post-operative testing, is required for a minority of practitioners.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22942449/