Nonsurgical Removal of Improvised Nasogastric Tubes Entrapped in the Urethra in Two Male Dogs.

Abstract

In two castrated male dogs, entrapment of a nasogastric feeding tube, which had been used as an improvised urethral catheter, occurred during intermittent urethral catheterization. In both cases, multiple failed attempts to remove the catheter raised concerns about catheter entrapment, which was subsequently confirmed via abdominal radiography. To facilitate removal, both dogs were placed under deep sedation using IV butorphanol (0.3 mg/kg) and propofol titrated to effect. A retrograde over-the-needle catheter was inserted alongside the entrapped nasogastric tube, and the urethral orifice was manually narrowed as much as possible. While applying rectal compression of the urethra, saline was infused through the over-the-needle catheter to dilate the urethra, allowing for the gentle extraction of the entrapped tube. Following entrapped tube removal, no urethral trauma or adverse effects were observed. These cases highlight the risks associated with using nonstandard materials, such as nasogastric feeding tubes, for urethral catheterization and introduces a novel nonsurgical technique for managing urethral catheter entrapment in veterinary practice.