Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Kitten treated without surgery after urinary catheter caused urethra
By Whittemore, Jacqueline C & Zucca, Lynda·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2003·All About Pets Veterinary Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Medical management of urethral and colonic perforation associated with urinary catheterization in a kitten.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 6-week-old male kitten was brought in for difficulty urinating and suspected blockage. During a procedure to place a urinary catheter, the catheter accidentally punctured both the urethra and colon. The vet opted for conservative treatment, giving the kitten fluids and antibiotics, and providing supportive care. Thankfully, the kitten did not show any signs of illness and continued to thrive without complications. This case highlights that medical management can be a viable option when surgery isn't possible.
People also search for: kitten urinary blockage treatment · urinary catheter complications in cats · how to help a kitten with difficulty urinating
Abstract
A 6-week-old male kitten was evaluated because of stranguria and possible urethral blockage; a urinary catheter placed during general anesthesia penetrated the urethral and colonic walls and entered the colon. Treatment was conservative, with fluids administered i.v., administration of piperacillin, and supportive care. The kitten never became febrile or clinically ill and continued to thrive. There was no development of clinical signs consistent with stricture, diverticulum, or fistula formation. Complications from urethral perforation include infection and urethral stricture. Reconstructive surgery is considered the treatment of choice for traumatic urethral-colonic perforation. However, surgery may not be feasible or may be cost-prohibitive in certain situations. In such instances, medical management may provide a reasonable alternative to euthanasia.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14507097/