Outcome of male cats managed for urethral obstruction with decompressive cystocentesis and urinary catheterization: 47 cats (2009-2012)

Objective: To characterize the duration of urinary catheterization, length of hospitalization, complications and clinical outcome in cats with urethral obstruction managed with decompressive cystocentesis and subsequent urinary catheterization. Design: Retrospective, observational, descriptive study. Setting: University teaching hospital. Animals: Forty-seven client-owned male cats diagnosed with urethral obstruction. Measurements and Main Results: The medical records of 47 cats diagnosed with urethral obstruction were reviewed. Treatment of all cats included decompressive cystocentesis, placement of an indwelling urinary catheter and hospitalization for a minimum of 6 hours. Collected data included signalment, body weight, body condition score, owner-reported clinical signs, duration of clinical signs, vital signs, and venous blood gas or chemistry values. Mean duration of urinary catheterization was 27.9 hours, median length of hospitalization was 40 hours, and survival to discharge was 91%. Of 34 cats that had survey abdominal radiographs, 56% (19/34) had loss of peritoneal detail consistent with abdominal effusion. No cat was diagnosed with a ruptured bladder during hospitalization. Conclusions: Decompressive cystocentesis, in cats with urethral obstruction, followed by placement of an indwelling urinary catheter, did not result in a diagnosis of bladder rupture in any cat. The source of and clinical significance of the reported abdominal effusion is not known. Survival to discharge, duration of catheterization, and length of hospitalization were similar to previously reported populations.