Incidence of complications from perioperative urinary catheterisation in horses.

The study revolves around examining the incidence of complications arising from the perioperative urinary catheterisation in horses. The research conclusively finds that short-term placement of urinary catheters during the perioperative period has a low incidence of complications, albeit difficulty inserting the catheter may occasionally result in urethral injury.

Research Objectives and Methodology

• The primary objective of this study was to assess the risks associated with perioperative urinary catheterisation in horses, a common procedure whose risks are not well-documented. It aimed to uncover any complications that might arise from the process, and how often they occur.
• The study employed a retrospective cohort method, focusing on horses admitted to a university teaching hospital for surgery requiring perioperative urinary catheterization.
• Data regarding the horses’ identity, type of procedure conducted, any presence of pre-existing urinary or renal pathology, and the timing of catheter placement was collected from clinical records.
• The research also analyzed complications from catheterization, injuries during recovery, and the total volume of urine collected, along with any evidence of urinary tract infections (UTI) or urethral strictures post-catheterisation.

Main Findings

• The study included 218 horses. A significant majority of catheters (70.7%) were placed immediately prior to recovery, demonstrating the common use of this procedure in surgical processes.
• The median volume of urine collected during anaesthesia was found to be 4.89 mL/kg, suggesting that the amount of urine produced during anaesthesia varies between individuals.
• Catheterisation duration ranged from less than 20 minutes up to 4 days, indicating a wide range of needs for urinary catheterisation depending on the surgical procedure and recovery time.
• Only 1.4% of horses experienced complications, where the catheter couldn’t be passed through the urethra, resulting in minor urethral trauma in one case. This shows that complications from this procedure are relatively rare, although they could cause potential harm, particularly if repeated attempts at catheterisation are made.
• No clinical signs of UTI or urethral stricture were reported in any horse post-catheterisation, suggesting that the procedure, when performed correctly, poses a minimal risk of these complications.

Conclusions

• The study concludes that the short-term placement of urinary catheters during the perioperative period has a low incidence of complications, suggesting that it’s a relatively safe procedure when conducted by experienced practitioners.
• However, difficulty in inserting the catheter, while rare, can occur and may result in urethral injury. This stipulates the need for procedural caution and skill to minimize the risk of such injury.