An application of sublingual mucosa to establish a new urination passage in male cats with complications after urethrostomy

Abstract

This is the first study of using sublingual mucosae to establish a new urination passage in male cats suffering from complications from prior urethrostomy. In total, five domestic male cats afflicted with various complications, such as urethra stricture, scalding dermatitis, and urinary tract infection, after urethrostomy were included in the study. Sublingual mucosa was harvested to graft with abdominal muscles and further made into a tube connecting with the remaining urethra of the bladder at the cranial end and with the prepuce at the caudal end, serving as a new passage for urination. Postoperatively, all cats were alive and well recovered with no complications both in the oral cavity and at the surgical site. Radiography with contrast medium at two weeks and six months after surgery showed no leakage, stricture, or abnormality of the new urination passage. Moreover, all cats were able to urinate from the prepuce without any difficulty or signs of discomfort.