Assessment of Wound Healing Following Collagen Urethral Stent Placement for Urethrotomy in Dogs

Abstract

Background: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of collagen urethral stents on wound healing post-urethrotomy in dogs and to assess the uptake of collagen urethral stents through urethrography, ultrasonography and hematobiochemical analysis. Methods: A total of 12 dogs presented to Madras Veterinary College teaching hospital with the history of urinary obstruction were chosen for the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups of 6 dogs in each. In Group I, dogs were treated with conventional urethrotomy procedure and in group II, animals were treated with urethrotomy with collagen urethral stent placement. Hematobiochemical, plain and contrast radiography, ultrasonograhy were performed in both the groups. Result: The study revealed that in comparison with Group I, Group II animals had a faster wound healing rates; reduction in urethral lumen diameter and urethral leakage post-operatively were not observed in both the groups. In the present study, ultrasound was used to identify and locate the calculi but also to check the collapse, migration and absorption of the collagen stent placed inside the urethra wherein no stent collapse or migration noticed. Partial collagen stent absorption was noticed on day 7 and a complete stent absorption was noticed on day 14. There was no significant difference in the pain scores between the groups indicating that the collagen stent does not elicit any extra pain as compared to normal urethrotomy procedure.