Survival and complications in cats treated with subcutaneous ureteral bypass.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To report the complications and factors affecting outcome for cats following placement of a subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB&#x2122;). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, complications, the presence of a urinary tract infection and survival time were recorded following subctutaneous ureteral bypass placement. Factors affecting survival time were assessed using a Kaplan Meier curve and log rank test. RESULTS: Ninety-five cats had 130 subcutaneous ureteral bypasses placed. Ten cats did not survive to discharge. Forty cats died or were euthanised after discharge (42%); the median survival time of these cats was 530&#x2009;days (range 7 to 1915). Minor complications occurred in 18 cats (19%) and major complications occurred in 46 cats (48%), the majority of which were after hospital discharge. Twenty-seven cats were diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI) post-operatively. A significant association between long-term survival and creatinine at presentation was identified. The median survival time for cats presenting with creatinine concentration &#x2265;440&#x2009;&#x3bc;mol/L (International Renal Interest Society stage acute kidney injury (AKI) 4 and 5) was 530&#x2009;days (95% CI 273-787&#x2009;days), compared to a median survival time of 949&#x2009;days (95% CI 655-1243&#x2009;days; Log Rank P=0.024) for those cats presenting with creatinine <440&#x2009;&#x3bc;mol/L (International Renal Interest Society stage AKI 1-3). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In this population of cats, subcutaneous ureteral bypass placement was associated with an approximately 10% in-hospital mortality and a high complication rate. Most complications were manageable, resulting in an overall median survival time of over 2&#x2009;years.