Evaluation of Temporary Urethral Stents in the Management of Malignant and Nonmalignant Urethral Diseases in Dogs

Abstract

Urethral stent placement is a minimally invasive interventional procedure commonly performed by specialists to alleviate urethral obstruction. However, the availability of urethral stents is limited by their high cost and the need for special equipment. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the construction and placement of an inexpensive temporary urethral stent and to report on its outcome in managing dogs with naturally occurring urethral disease. Temporary stents were placed in the urethra of 17 dogs with malignant and nonmalignant urethral pathologies. The most common indication for temporary stent placement was urethral obstruction. In this population, urethral patency was restored in all dogs. The most frequently reported complication was urinary incontinence. To manage this complication, dogs were diapered. Temporary urethral stents served as a durable and inexpensive alternative to expanding metallic stents. Because temporary stents were constructed from readily available materials and inserted without special equipment, practitioners capable of catheterizing the urethra can insert them on demand.

Keywords: canine; transitional cell carcinoma; urethral obstruction; urinary catheter; urinary incontinence; urinary tract.

Figure 1

Construction of a temporary stent: (A) A hypodermic needle is inserted through the distal end of the stent and a suture is inserted into the end of the needle. (B) The suture is passed all the way through the hypodermic needle until it exits the needle’s hub. (C) The needle is retracted, leaving the suture in the needle’s track. (D) The suture is tied to create a small loop at the distal end of the stent.

Figure 2

Illustration of a temporary stent placed in the urethra of a female dog. The proximal tip of the stent is placed cranial to the obstructing urethral lesion. The distal tip of the stent is anchored to the inside wall of the vestibule with a loop of suture loosely tied over perineal skin near the vulva. The square in the upper insert identifies the location of interest in the dog. © Diogo Guerra.

Figure 3

Placing a suture to anchor the temporary stent inside the urethral lumen of a male dog. (A) A groove director is inserted in the urethral lumen to assist direction of the needle and suture through the ventral wall of the penis, into the urethral lumen and out the external urethral orifice. (B) Completed suture after it was attached to the anchoring loop on the temporary stent, passed back into the urethral lumen and out of the ventral wall of the penis, and tied.