Case Report: Primary Urethral Repair in a Cat Following Urethral Tear During Catheterization

Urethral tears in cats are rare but serious complications that can occur during urinary catheterization, particularly in cases of obstructive uropathy. This case report details the successful primary urethral repair in a male cat that developed a urethral tear following emergency catheterization for complete urethral obstruction.

Case Presentation

A 4-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat presented as an emergency for complete urethral obstruction with radiographic evidence of cystolithiasis (bladder stones). Initial management included:

• Perineal urethrostomy (PU) to relieve obstruction.

• Cystotomy to remove uroliths.

Postoperative Complications

• Day 1 post-op: The cat developed uroabdomen (urine leakage into the abdomen) due to a urethral tear.

• An indwelling Foley catheter was placed to divert urine flow.

• Day 4: A contrast cystourethrogram confirmed a persistent urethral tear, prompting catheter replacement.

• Day 11 (7 days after replacement): Repeat imaging showed the tear remained unhealed.

Surgical Intervention

Given the persistent defect, primary urethral repair was performed:

• The tear was surgically closed.

• A Foley catheter was left in place to support healing.

• 7 days post-repair: A final contrast urethrogram confirmed complete resolution of the tear with no leakage after catheter removal.

Discussion & Key Takeaways

• This case demonstrates the feasibility of primary urethral repair in cats when conservative management (catheterization alone) fails.

• Contrast imaging (cystourethrogram) was critical in assessing tear persistence and confirming successful repair.

• Prompt recognition of uroabdomen and persistent urethral injury guided timely surgical intervention.

• The case underscores the importance of careful catheterization in obstructed cats to avoid iatrogenic trauma.

Primary urethral repair, though uncommon in feline medicine, can be a successful treatment for persistent urethral tears. This report highlights the importance of diagnostic imaging, surgical technique, and postoperative monitoring in managing such complications.

Read full article here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1481879/full