Management of Feline Ureteral Obstructions: an Interventionalist’s Approach

Ureteral disease can create a significant dilemma in our feline patients. The relatively common incidence of ureteral disease, combined with the invasiveness and morbidity associated with traditional surgical techniques, makes the investigation of minimally invasive alternatives appealing. Interventional radiologic (IR) and interventional endoscopic (IE) techniques, like ureteropyelography, percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement, ureteral stenting and subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB), have aided tremendously in the ability to simultaneously diagnosis and treat ureteral obstructions in a minimally invasive manner. Endourologic procedures are considered standard of care in human adult and pediatric surgery and are currently being applied in veterinary medicine. This talk will focus on the diagnosis, management and treatment of cats with ureteral obstructions of various causes through the use of interventional approaches as an alternative treatment modality. Data from over 100 consecutive cases treated interventionally will be reported and discussed.