Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery options for blocked ureters in cats and their outcomes
By Oyamada, Kazuhisa et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2026·1Matsubara Animal Hospital, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tailored ureteroneocystostomy with tension-relieving techniques for benign ureteral obstruction in cats: a retrospective study of 189 cases (220 ureters).
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old male cat was brought in for difficulty urinating due to a blockage in the ureter. The veterinarian performed a surgical procedure called ureteroneocystostomy, which involved reconnecting the ureter to the bladder, using special techniques to reduce tension and prevent future blockages. After the surgery, the cat had a low risk of complications and a high chance of survival, with 89% of cats living at least a year after the procedure. This approach showed promising long-term outcomes, making it a good option for cats with similar issues.
People also search for: cat ureter blockage treatment · ureteroneocystostomy in cats · cat urinary problems surgery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical techniques for ureteroneocystostomy in cats with benign ureteral obstruction, evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes of various techniques, and conduct meta-analyses using previously reported modalities. METHODS: Medical records of cats that underwent ureteroneocystostomy for benign ureteral obstruction between 2018 and 2024 were reviewed. Retrieved data (4 ureteroneocystostomy techniques, complications, and survivals) were analyzed. Random-effect meta-analyses with a logit transformation were conducted using previous studies on implant placement (subcutaneous ureteral bypass or ureteral stents) and traditional surgery (ureterotomy or ureteroneocystostomy). RESULTS: Overall, 220 ureters in 189 cats were treated with ureteroneocystostomy. Overall outcomes for all techniques were a perioperative mortality rate of 0.5% (95% CI, 0.0% to 1.6%), uroabdomen rate of 1.1% (95% CI, 0.3% to 4.0%), reobstruction rate of 8.5% (95% CI, 4.5% to 12.4%), and urinary tract infection rate of 13.2% (95% CI, 8.3% to 18.1%). These rates were lower than or similar to those in previous implant and traditional surgery studies. The 12-month survival rate was 89.4% (95% CI, 85.0% to 93.8%). Cats classified as International Renal Interest Society chronic kidney disease stage ≥ III at 1 month postoperatively had significantly shorter survival times than lower stages. Extravesicular, 2-layer, side-to-side ureteroneocystostomy with tension-relieving techniques reduced reobstruction risk compared with the other types of ureteroneocystostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Tailored ureteroneocystostomy and tension-relieving techniques can result in favorable long-term outcomes and low complication rates, similar to or better than those in previous implant and traditional surgery studies. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ureteroneocystostomy is a primary surgical treatment for feline benign ureteral obstruction, particularly when combined with tension-relieving techniques and temporary ureteral catheterization.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41849815/