Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Complications and care in cats having surgery for blocked ureters
By Garcia de Carellan Mateo, Alejandra et al.·Published in Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia·2015·Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective study of the perioperative management and complications of ureteral obstruction in 37 cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 37 cats with ureteral obstruction (a blockage in the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder) underwent surgery and anesthesia to relieve their condition. Many of these cats had high levels of waste products in their blood and some experienced complications during anesthesia, such as low heart rate and low blood pressure. Unfortunately, 7 of the cats did not survive the surgery, and older cats or those with higher potassium levels were at greater risk. The study highlights the importance of careful monitoring and management during surgery for cats with this serious condition.
People also search for: cat ureteral obstruction symptoms · cat surgery complications · high potassium in cats treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe perioperative management and complications, risk factors and mortality rates in cats anaesthetized for treatment of ureteral obstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, clinical, cohort study. ANIMALS: Thirty-seven client-owned cats anaesthetized for ureteral surgery. METHODS: Records with sufficient data for cats treated between March 2010 and March 2013 were examined for breed, age, gender, history, concurrent diseases, pre- and post-anaesthetic biochemical and haematological parameters, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, anaesthetic protocol, surgical technique, surgeon, perioperative complications and mortality within 48 hours after extubation. Associations between risk factors and outcome variables were evaluated using univariable analysis. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for significant parameters. Sensitivity and specificity using receiving operator characteristic curve analysis were calculated for creatinine, potassium level and standard base excess (SBE) to denote survival or non-survival. RESULTS: Preoperatively, all cats were azotaemic: mean±SD urea was 31.6 ± 26.9 mmol L(-1) and median (range) creatinine was 562 μmol L(-1) (95 μmol L(-1) to off scale). Thirteen cats were hyperkalaemic (K+ 6.5 mmol L(-1)). Anaesthesia-related complications included bradycardia (n=8, 21.6%), hypotension (n=15, 40.5%) and hypothermia (n=32, 86.5%). Seven cats (18.9%) died postoperatively. Non-survivors were significantly (p=0.011) older (9.8±1.9 years) than survivors (6.4±3.1 years) and had higher potassium concentrations (p=0.040). Risk factors associated with mortality were ASA classes IV and V (p=0.022), emergency procedures (p=0.045) and bicarbonate administration (p=0.002). Non-survivors had higher creatinine concentrations (p=0.021) and lower SBE (p=0.030). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intraoperative anaesthetic complications were common; increased age, poor health status, preoperative bicarbonate administration, hyperkalaemia and increased creatinine were associated with increased risk for death and can be used to predict risk for complications.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25732861/