Fluoroscopy-guided balloon dilation of a proximal urethral stricture caused by a urethral membrane in a female cat

Rincon Alvarez, Javier; Smith, Victoria; Broome, Cameron

Feline urethral strictures are uncommon, usually occurring secondary to catheter-induced or pelvic trauma and most commonly within the mid-distal or distal urethra. Although rare, urethral strictures of presumed congenital origin have also been described in young cats. 1 Diagnosis, management and confirmation of the aetiology of non-trauma-induced urethral strictures can be challenging owing to the sparseness of the current literature describing affected cases and a lack of histopathology due to tissue size and difficulty in sampling. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Several surgical options have been described for the treatment of urethral strictures. These are invasive procedures with significant complications and variable outcomes. 3, [8] [9] [10] [11] This report describes the successful management of a suspected congenital proximal urethral stricture in a female cat using minimally invasive fluoroscopy-guided balloon dilation. To our knowledge, this treatment modality has not been previously reported in cats. A 2- year-old female neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 5-week history of stranguria, pollakiuria and urinary incontinence. On initial presentation to the primary veterinarian the cat was reported to be excessively licking her vulva. This progressed to urinary incontinence when laying down and stranguria when urinating. Symptomatic treatment with cefovecin ( Vetoquinol]) was subsequently trialled. Owing to ongoing clinical signs, an exploratory coeliotomy was performed 3 weeks later. The primary veterinarian identified a thickened but grossly normal bladder. Ovariohysterectomy and bladder wall biopsy were performed. Histopathology revealed no abnormalities.