Estudo retrospectivo e prospectivo do uso de cistoscopia como método de diagnóstico e tratamento de cães e gatos com doença do trato urinário inferior

Abstract

Cystoscopy has become a consolidated minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic tool for managing lower urinary tract diseases in dogs and cats. This study evaluated 167 patients (100 dogs and 67 cats) subjected to percutaneous or transurethral cystoscopy between 2021 and 2024, and evaluated the applicability of the videoscopy technique in the diagnosis and treatment of urological conditions, correlating clinical findings with existing literature. The main procedures performed included the removal of bladder and urethral stones, urethral obstruction relief in cats, identification and correction of congenital malformations, management of urethral strictures, neoplasia diagnosis, as well as biopsy collection for histopathology and culture. Results showed that percutaneous cystoscopy virtually eliminated the need for urethrotomy for stone removal, with recurrence rates of uroliths being only 2.5% in dogs and none in cats. Furthermore, it allowed the identification of associated lesions such as strictures, ruptures, polyps, neoplasms, and other abnormalities, reinforcing its diagnostic efficacy. The technique was also crucial in addressing congenital malformations, with identification of ectopic ureter, paramesonephric ligament, ureterocele, urinary sphincter incompetence, and vaginal septum, many of which were corrected through endoscopic resection with scissors or laser ablation. Cases treated with a minimally invasive approach showed reduced hospitalization times compared to open surgeries, highlighting the superiority of the technique in terms of postoperative recovery. Given the results obtained, percutaneous cystoscopy and urethrocystoscopy are consolidated as excellent methods in the management of lower urinary tract diseases, especially in the removal of stones, treatment of feline urethral obstructions, and correction of congenital malformations. Future studies evaluating long-term clinical stages and recurrence rates of the conditions involved will contribute to the improvement and standardization of these techniques in veterinary practice.