34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

This study aims to evaluate the surgical outcomes, complications, and prognostic factors in three dogs affected by oncological diseases undergoing Subcutaneous Ureteral Bypass (SUB) implantation.

Methods:

Inclusion criteria were dogs with malignant ureteral obstructions treated by SUB application.

All patients underwent the same protocol: all clinical and laboratory data (including blood chemistry, blood type, and CT scan results) was recorded and x-ray monitoring was conducted.

Results:

The observed causes of obstruction were abdominal sarcoma surrounding the ureter (n=1),

compression from metastatic lymph nodes in the context of prostatic carcinoma (n=1), and

failure of ureteral reimplantation after prostatectomy performed for infiltrating prostatic

carcinoma in the trigone region (n=1).

All patients were treated with the SUB device; the nephrostomy catheter was placed unilaterally in two dogs and bilaterally in one patient.

Preoperative levels of creatinine and BUN, initially elevated

(median creatinine 4.7 mg/dl; BUN 80 mg/dl), showed improvements upon follow-up.

Major complications included catheter dislodgement from the renal pelvis with uroabdomen.

Minor complications included incontinence and urinary tract infections (n=2).

The presence of metastases in cases of malignant obstruction was identified as a negative prognostic factor.

The intraoperative mortality was 0%, while postoperative (120 days following operation) mortality was 66%.

Conclusions:

The application of SUB represents a valid therapeutic option, whether curative or palliative. It also serves as a life-saving treatment in patients already subjected to total cystectomy. Patient selection and clear communication with the owner are crucial for proper surgical outcome.