Nephrology and Urology Fellow Friendship Hospital for Animals Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Abstract: Background: Transurethral debulking (TUD) of obstructive urethral masses using a bipolar resectoscope is a novel alternative treatment to laser debulking, which is impractical for extensive tumours, and urethral stenting, which has a relatively frequent incidence of incontinence and persistent dysuria post-procedure.
Objective: To evaluate procedural complications and post-procedural urinary signs for patients undergoing TUD.
Animals: Five dogs presenting with lower urinary signs secondary to known or suspected urothelial carcinoma.
Methods: This is a retrospective study. Dogs who underwent TUD using a 5 mm bipolar resectoscope were included. Procedural complications, post-procedural urinary signs, and time to reobstruction or death were recorded from the medical record.
Results: All dogs were female. Urothelial carcinoma was confirmed with cytology (1/5), BRAF test (2/5), and/or biopsy (3/5). Four dogs had 1 TUD, 1 dog had a second TUD six months after the first TUD. Iatrogenic full-thickness urethral tear occurred in one TUD, no other procedural complications were noted. Improvement in lower urinary signs was noted after 5/6 TUD. One dog had persistent dysuria requiring urethral stent placement 18 days after TUD. Median time from TUD to reobstruction or death was 122 days (Range 16-285 at the time of submission). No incontinence was reported post TUD.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: TUD using a bipolar resectoscope had a low procedural complication rate in this canine cohort and may present an effective alternative to urethral stent placement in the management of obstructive urothelial carcinoma.
