Case Report: Primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedure

This report describes a case of primary urethral repair secondary to a urethral tear in a 4-year-old, male castrated, domestic shorthair cat. The cat was initially presented on an emergency basis for complete urethral obstruction with radiographic evidence of cystolithiasis. A perineal urethrostomy...

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Main Authors: Kimery L. Hankins, Laurie A. Zacher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1481879/full
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author Kimery L. Hankins
Kimery L. Hankins
Laurie A. Zacher
author_facet Kimery L. Hankins
Kimery L. Hankins
Laurie A. Zacher
author_sort Kimery L. Hankins
collection DOAJ
description This report describes a case of primary urethral repair secondary to a urethral tear in a 4-year-old, male castrated, domestic shorthair cat. The cat was initially presented on an emergency basis for complete urethral obstruction with radiographic evidence of cystolithiasis. A perineal urethrostomy and concurrent cystotomy were performed to relieve the urethral obstruction and retrieve the uroliths. One day postoperatively, a uroabdomen secondary to a urethral tear was diagnosed. An indwelling Foley catheter was placed. A contrast cystourethrogram performed 4 days later, however, revealed a persistent urethral tear, so a Foley catheter was replaced. Seven days after replacement, another contrast cystourethrogram was performed revealing a persistent urethral tear. Due to the anatomic location of the tear identified on radiographs after the contrast study, primary closure of the urethral defect with the placement of a Foley urinary catheter was completed. Another contrast urethrogram 7 days after repair revealed a resolved defect with no leakage appreciated once the urinary catheter was removed. This case highlights the management, surgical techniques, and success of a primary urethral repair in a cat. It demonstrates successful outcomes and follow-up for an uncommon procedure and illustrates the importance of initial catheterization for blocked felines.
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spelling doaj-art-3db478bb94ef4a7c8eac9335b78d2e8a2025-08-20T02:51:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-03-011210.3389/fvets.2025.14818791481879Case Report: Primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedureKimery L. Hankins0Kimery L. Hankins1Laurie A. Zacher2Department of Small Animal Surgery, Central Texas Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital, Round Rock, TX, United StatesUniversity of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Columbia, MO, United StatesDepartment of Small Animal Surgery, Central Texas Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital, Round Rock, TX, United StatesThis report describes a case of primary urethral repair secondary to a urethral tear in a 4-year-old, male castrated, domestic shorthair cat. The cat was initially presented on an emergency basis for complete urethral obstruction with radiographic evidence of cystolithiasis. A perineal urethrostomy and concurrent cystotomy were performed to relieve the urethral obstruction and retrieve the uroliths. One day postoperatively, a uroabdomen secondary to a urethral tear was diagnosed. An indwelling Foley catheter was placed. A contrast cystourethrogram performed 4 days later, however, revealed a persistent urethral tear, so a Foley catheter was replaced. Seven days after replacement, another contrast cystourethrogram was performed revealing a persistent urethral tear. Due to the anatomic location of the tear identified on radiographs after the contrast study, primary closure of the urethral defect with the placement of a Foley urinary catheter was completed. Another contrast urethrogram 7 days after repair revealed a resolved defect with no leakage appreciated once the urinary catheter was removed. This case highlights the management, surgical techniques, and success of a primary urethral repair in a cat. It demonstrates successful outcomes and follow-up for an uncommon procedure and illustrates the importance of initial catheterization for blocked felines.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1481879/fullcatperineal urethrostomy (PU)urinary cathetercystourethrogramprimary urethral repair
spellingShingle Kimery L. Hankins
Kimery L. Hankins
Laurie A. Zacher
Case Report: Primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedure
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
cat
perineal urethrostomy (PU)
urinary catheter
cystourethrogram
primary urethral repair
title Case Report: Primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedure
title_full Case Report: Primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedure
title_fullStr Case Report: Primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedure
title_full_unstemmed Case Report: Primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedure
title_short Case Report: Primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedure
title_sort case report primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedure
topic cat
perineal urethrostomy (PU)
urinary catheter
cystourethrogram
primary urethral repair
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1481879/full
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AT laurieazacher casereportprimaryurethralrepairinacatsecondarytourethraltearsustainedduringthecatheterizationprocedure