Comparison of percutaneous cystolithotomy and open cystotomy for removal of urethral and bladder uroliths in dogs: Retrospective study of 81 cases (2014‐2018)

Abstract Objective Compare percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL) and open cystotomy (OC) for removal of bladder and urethral uroliths. Design Retrospective study. Animals Client‐owned dogs and cats that underwent PCCL (n = 41) or OC (n = 40) between January 1, 2014 and February 28, 2018 at a referral center. Methods Medical records of dogs and cats that underwent a PCCL or an OC were reviewed. History, signalment, physical examination, diagnostic tests, length of the procedure and anesthesia, complications, and duration of hospitalization were recorded. Results A total 17 cats (PCCL = 10; OC = 7) and 64 dogs (PCCL = 31; OC = 33) were included. There was no significant difference, regardless of species, in the mean surgical time (45 min [24‐160 min] and 48.5 min [15‐122 min] with P = .54 in dogs, P = .65 in cats) nor mean duration of anesthesia (90 min [50‐120 min] and 98 min [54‐223 min] with P = .87 in dogs, P = .08 in cats) in the PCCL and OC groups respectively. Number of uroliths did not affect duration of surgery in either group. Complete urolith removal was achieved in 98% of dogs and cats in both groups. The median hospitalization time was significantly shorter in the PCCL group for dogs (11.3 hours [range 4 to 51.3] in the PCCL vs 56.6 hours [range 7.3 to 96] in the OC group; P < .001) but did not differ for cats (24.5 hours [range 8.3 to 30] in the PCCL vs 56.6 hours [range 10.1 to 193.2] in the OC group; P = .08). Conclusion and Clinical Relevance Bladder urolith removal by PCCL procedure is no longer than OC. Further studies are needed to compare the pain related to procedure between PCCL and OC.