Specialized intern in Interventional Radiology University of Montreal Mcmasterville, Quebec, Canada
Abstract:
Background: Urethral diverticulum (UD) is a rare anatomical anomaly defined as an outpouching of the urethra. Management without surgical resection has not been previously described in dogs.
Hypothesis/
Objectives: The objective of this study was to report outcome of male dogs presented for urinary incontinence with UD treated with an artificial urethral sphincter (AUS).
Animals: Six client-owned dogs with UD treated with AUS were identified.
Methods: Medical records from male dogs with urinary incontinence were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were retrograde cystourethrography and/or cystoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography or contrast CT demonstrating a urethral diverticulum, AUS placement and at least one follow-up after AUS placement.
Results: Median age at time of diagnosis was 9 months and median weight was 32.9 kg. Median continence score at presentation was 1/5 (1/5 in 5/6 dogs and 2/5 in 1/6 dogs). A contrast cystourethrogram was performed and diagnostic in 5/5 dogs (fluoroscopic n=4, CT cystourethrography n=1). All diverticula were located in the proximal third of the urethra. A congenital origin was suspected in 5 dogs and acquired in 1. Concomitant anomalies included bilateral cryptorchidism (2/6) and ultrasound findings consistent with renal dysplasia or chronic pyelonephritis (3/6), persistent urachus (1/6,) ventrolateral insertion of the ureterovesicular junctions (1/6) and urethrocolonic fistula (1/6). All dogs were poorly/moderately responsive to phenylpropanolamine. AUS placement resulted in improvement in all dogs with a median continence score of 4/5 (5/5 in 2/6 dogs, 4/5 in 3/6 dogs, 3/5 in 1/6 dogs) post-placement.
Conclusion: Placement of an AUS improved continence scores in male dogs with UD.
