Effect of intermittent bladder flushing on recurrence rate in feline urethral obstruction: 72 cases.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of intermittent bladder flushing on recurrent urethral obstruction (rUO) at 7 d and 30 d after discharge and the risk of bacteriuria as a result of indwelling urethral catheterization. ANIMALS: There were 72 cats with suspected obstructive feline idiopathic cystitis admitted to the hospital. PROCEDURES: Cats were randomly assigned to either intermittent bladder flushing (= 34) or no-flush (control) groups (= 38). Bladder flushing was performed with 5 mL/kg of sterile 0.9% saline, q8h during indwelling urinary catheterization. Urine was tested for bacteriuria by a point-of-care test at the time of urinary catheterization andcystocentesis following catheter removal before discharge. Risk of rUO by groups and its association with other variables were evaluated. RESULTS: The age (median: 3.0 years) in the flush group was younger (= 0.01), and the length of hospitalization (> 24 hours) was longer (< 0.01) than that of the control group. Overall rUO was 6.6% on Day 7 and 21.8% on Day 30 after discharge, but there was no significant difference between groups. A shorter duration of catheterization (< 24 hours) was associated with higher risk of rUO (odds ratio: 6.0). The incidence of catheter-related bacteriuria was 14.5% and was not significantly different between groups (13.8% and 15.2% in the flush and control, respectively). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intermittent bladder flushing during hospitalization appears safe but did not decrease the incidence of rUO. The incidence of bacteriuria following catheterization was not affected by intermittent bladder flushing.