Neouretra com enxerto autógeno de segmento intestinal vascularizado em felino / Autogenous vascularized intestinal grafting for urethral reconstruction in feline

ABSTRACT

Background: Serious urethral damage or recurrent obstructions in felines require a urethrostomy to provide a return to and maintenance of urinary flow. In some cases, urethral reconstruction with complementary tissue is required. Grafting of autogenous vascularized intestinal segments is widely used in human medicine to promote the functional restoration of the urethra, but in veterinary medicine, its use is still incipient. Thus, the aim of this report was to analyze and describe the use of thein functional urethral repair in a feline diagnosed with a severe urethral rupture. Case A castrated male cat presented with urethral obstruction. Emergency decompression cystocentesis was performed, and fluids and analgesics were administered. Catheterization and urohydropropulsion were attempted to relieve the obstruction, without success. An emergency perineal urethrostomy was indicated. After the procedure, the diagnosis (obstructive lower tract urinary disease) and the infeasibility of restoring urinary flow by conventional urethrostomy techniques were confirmed. We opted for a laparoscopic-assisted prepubic urethrostomy; the pre-prostatic urethra was transected, and its caudais end was brought through an abdominal incision cranially. However, urethral tension was noted after this maneuver was performed. Thus, we decided to use autogenous vascularized intestinal segment grafting for urethral reconstruction. A segment of the ileum was prepared for grafting, with preservation of irrigation and mesenteric innervation. A terminoterminal anastomosis was performed on the stumps of the remaining intestine, and the mesentery was sutured. The ileal graft was isolated and washed to remove...