Surgical Management of Obstructive Urolithiasis in Small Ruminants by Tube Cystostomy in Chittagong, Bangladesh

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate minimally invasive tube cystostomy technique in goats and calves suffering from obstructive urolithiasis having intact and ruptured urinary bladder. This clinical study was carried out on 84 clinical cases (61 goats and 23 calves) based on the history, clinical signs and physical examination along with common laboratory techniques at the Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University during January 2015-December 2016. Physical parameters like heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and dehydration status of animals were noted and corrected abnormality before surgery. Some cases had slightly higher haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and uric acid and epithelial casts in urine. The study revealed that abnormal calcium-phosphorus ratio was predisposing the animals to urolithiasis. It was found that young ruminants (3-5 months) were most commonly affected in both species. All affected animals were male in this study, in which calves were not castrated but in goats 95.08% animals were castrated. Rupture of bladder was more common in calves as compared to goats. Postoperatively all cases were administered with broad-spectrum antibiotic, anti-inflammatory agent and caliculolytic agents like ammonium chloride. Tube cystostomy with Foley’s catheter was the most satisfactory technique for the management of obstructive urolithiasis in small ruminants. Postoperative complications were recorded only in four animals and remaining 80 animals had a normal recovery from tube cystostomy. Tube cystostomy is a simple, inexpensive and very effective procedure for the treatment of urolithiasis in ruminants.