Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Endoscopic surgery to remove complex kidney stones in dogs and cats
By Petrovsky, Brian et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2019·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Endoscopic nephrolithotomy for the removal of complicated nephroliths in dogs and cats: 16 kidneys in 12 patients (2005-2017).
Plain-English summary
A group of 11 dogs and 1 cat with complicated kidney stones underwent a procedure called endoscopic nephrolithotomy (ENL) to remove the stones. The stones were causing issues like urinary tract infections and blockages, and most were made of calcium oxalate. After the procedure, 15 out of 16 kidney units were free of stones, and while there were some minor complications, they were managed successfully. At the last check-up, 5 of the 12 pets were still alive, and none died due to the procedure, showing that ENL is a safe and effective option for treating these kidney stones in pets.
People also search for: dog kidney stones treatment · cat kidney stone removal · endoscopic nephrolithotomy for pets · calcium oxalate stones in dogs · urinary tract infection in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe techniques and outcomes for dogs and cats undergoing endoscopic nephrolithotomy (ENL) for the removal of complicated nephroliths. ANIMALS: 11 dogs and 1 cat (n = 16 renal units) with complicated nephroliths that underwent ENL via a surgically assisted ENL approach (12 renal units) or a percutaneous nephrolithotomy approach (4 renal units) between December 2005 and June 2017. PROCEDURES: Data were obtained from the medical records regarding preoperative, operative, and postoperative findings. Follow-up information on complications and outcomes was also collected. RESULTS: Indications for nephrolith removal included massive calculi displacing parenchyma (n = 7), recurrent urinary tract infections (5), and ureteral outflow obstruction (4). Median nephrolith diameter was 2.5 cm (range, 0.5 to 5.7 cm). Nephrolith composition differed among patients; calcium oxalate was the most common type (n = 7 [including 2 mixed nephroliths containing ≥ 60% calcium oxalate]). Following ENL (median duration, 180 minutes), 15 of 16 renal units were completely nephrolith free. Procedure-related complications included renal puncture-associated hemorrhage requiring a blood transfusion (n = 1), renal capsule tear (1), and ureteral puncture (1); all were managed without adverse consequence. Five of 12 patients remained alive at the final follow-up (median, 557 days after ENL), and none died from the procedure. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: ENL as performed was safe and effective in removing complicated nephroliths in a renal-sparing manner for the patients in this study. This procedure requires technical training and could be considered for the treatment of complicated nephrolithiasis in dogs and possibly cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31298636/