Subcutaneous Ureteral Bypass
The ureters of cats are tubes that deliver urine from the kidney to the bladder. Should they become obstructed, it can be life-threatening. We can now perform a life-saving procedure for cats with ureteral obstruction - subcutaneous ureteral bypass.
Franklin is an 11-year-old Singapura who belongs to our very own Dr Aaron from Advanced Animal Dentistry. Franklin has been a frequent visitor to the VSS Underwood Hospital over the last year to see Cat Specialist Services.
A few months ago, Franklin presented with marked azotemia (elevated kidney enzymes indicative of kidney failure). In this case, the cause was bilateral ureteral obstructions.
Franklin required a bilateral Subcutaneous Ureteral Bypass (SUB) surgery and I performed this under fluoroscopic guidance. The SUB device effectively bypasses the obstructed ureter and delivers urine from the kidney to the bladder via specialised catheters. A catheter is placed in the kidney and the bladder and they are connected via a subcutaneous port. The port requires intermittent flushing. Without this surgery Franklin’s kidneys would have failed and he would have died.
Franklin is a lovely patient, and it is great to see him currently stable at this stage of his kidney disease journey.
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