Evaluation of the effects of nephrotomy on renal function in clinically normal cats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of nephrotomy on renal function in clinically normal cats.


METHODS
20 specific-pathogen-free, 9- to 11-month-old female mixed-breed cats.


METHODS
Serum chemistry analyses, CBC determinations, urinalyses, microbiologic urine cultures, renal ultrasonography, abdominal radiography, and single-kidney and total glomerular filtration rate (GFR) determinations by use of renal scintigraphy and measurements of plasma disappearance of technetium 99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid were performed before surgery and at 3, 12, 26, 52, and 78 weeks after surgery in 10 cats that underwent unilateral nephrotomy and in 10 control cats that underwent a sham surgical procedure.


RESULTS
Two cats (1 from each group) did not complete the study, and their data were eliminated from analyses. Unilateral nephrotomy resulted in a 10% to 20% reduction in mean single-kidney GFR, compared with that of nephrotomy contralateral control kidneys. However, mean total GFR in nephrotomy-group cats was not significantly different from that of sham-group cats. Over the 78 weeks of study, mean total GFR declined 34% and 40% in nephrotomy- and sham-group cats, respectively. Adverse events associated with nephrotomy included persistent microscopic hematuria, renal pelvis hyperechogenicity with distant shadowing on ultrasonographic evaluation, dilatation of renal pelves, and hydronephrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Nephrotomy in normal functioning feline kidneys results in a modest relative reduction in renal function, compared with contralateral kidney controls, but has minimal effect on total GFR when compared with sham-operated control cats. However, any detrimental effects of nephrotomy may be magnified in cats with diseased kidneys, which may have little or no capacity for repair or compensation.
Bolliger
Christian
C
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Walshaw
Richard
R
Kruger
John M
JM
Rosenstein
Diana S
DS
Richter
Marlee A
MA
Hauptman
Joe G
JG
Mauer
Whitney A
WA
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000662:veterinary; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013997:Time Factors