OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the technical, short-term, and long-term outcomes in cats with benign
ureteral obstructions treated by means of double-pigtail ureteral
stent placement. DESIGN--Retrospective case series. ANIMALS--69 cats (79 ureters). PROCEDURES--The diagnosis of benign
ureteral obstruction was made via abdominal ultrasonography, radiography, and ureteropyelography. Ureteral
stent placement was attempted endoscopically, surgically, or both, with fluoroscopic guidance. The medical records were reviewed for pre-, intra-, and postoperative data; complications; and outcome. RESULTS--69 cats (79 ureters) had
stent placement attempted for various causes:
ureterolithiasis (56/79 [71%]),
stricture (10/79 [13%]), both
ureterolithiasis and
stricture (12/79 [15%]), or a purulent plug (1/79 [1%]).
Stent placement was successful in 75 of 79 ureters (95%). Median number of stones per ureter was 4 (range, 0 to > 50), and 67 of 79 (85%) had concurrent
nephrolithiasis. Preoperative
azotemia was present in 95% (66/69) of cats (median
creatinine concentration, 5.3 mg/dL [range, 1.1 to 25.8 mg/dL]), and 71% (49/69) remained azotemic (median, 2.1 mg/dL [range, 1.0 to 11.8 mg/dL]) after successful surgery. Procedure-related, postoperative (< 7 days), short-term (7 to 30 days), and long-term (> 30 days) complications occurred in 8.7% (6/69; 7/79 ureters), 9.1% (6/66), 9.8% (6/61), and 33% (20/60) of cats, respectively; most of these complications were minor and associated with intermittent
dysuria or the need for ureteral
stent exchange. The perioperative mortality rate was 7.5% (5/69), and no deaths were procedure related. The median survival time was 498 days (range, 2 to > 1,278 days). For patients with a renal cause of death, median survival time was > 1,262 days, with only 14 of 66 cats (21%) dying of
chronic kidney disease. Nineteen (27%) cats needed a
stent exchange (
stricture in-growth [n = 10], migration [4], ureteritis [2],
dysuria [2],
pyelonephritis [1], or reflux [1]). No patient died of the procedure or recurrent
ureteral obstruction. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE--Results of the present study indicated that ureteral stenting is an effective treatment for benign
ureteral obstructions in cats regardless of obstructive location, cause, or stone number. The perioperative morbidity and mortality rates were lower than those reported with traditional ureteral surgery. The short- and long-term complications were typically minor but may necessitate
stent exchange or use of an alternative device, particularly with ureteral
strictures. The prognosis for feline
ureteral obstructions after ureteral stenting could be considered good when the procedure is performed by trained specialists.