title: Evaluation of urethral stent placement for benign urethral obstructions in dogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benign urethral obstructions (BUO) in dogs result in substantial morbidity because of challenges with conventional therapies. Treatment of malignant urethral obstructions with intraluminal urethral stents is reported to successfully relieve obstructions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and outcome of urethral stent placement for treatment of BUO in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven client-owned animals with urethral stents placed for treatment of BUO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study in which medical records were reviewed in dogs diagnosed with BUO and treated with a metallic urethral stent. Data collected included signalment, cause of benign obstruction, procedure time, size and type of stent, complications, and short- and long-term outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven dogs with 15 urethral stents were included. Intraluminal urethral stent(s) relieved the obstructions in all dogs. Four dogs had 2 stents placed in separate procedures because of incomplete patency after treatment (n = 1), inadvertent compression of the stent (n = 1), or tissue ingrowth through the stent (n = 2). The median continence score after stent placement was 10 of 10 (range 3-10) with 6 dogs being continent, 3 mildly incontinent, and 1 each moderately and severely incontinent. All owners considered their dog to have an excellent long-term clinical outcome with long-term urethral patency. The median follow-up time was 24 months (range 4-48).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urethral stents appear to be an effective treatment for benign urinary obstructions. Moderate to severe incontinence developed in a minority (12.5%) of dogs. Stents relieved obstructions in all dogs with an excellent long-term outcome.
authors: The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors: T L
authors: TL
authors: Hill
authors: A C
authors: AC
authors: Berent
authors: C W
authors: CW
authors: Weisse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000662:veterinary*; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Cystourethrogram; Hydraulic occluder; Reflex dyssynergia; Stricture; Urinary obstruction