Ultrasonography in the diagnosis and management of cats with ureteral obstruction

ObjectivesThe objective was to identify clinical or ultrasonographic results associated with ureteral obstruction or outcome in cats with azotaemia.MethodsThis was a retrospective cross-sectional study of cats with azotaemia (serum creatinine >180 μmol/l) that had ultrasonography of the urinary tract, ultrasound images available for review and received treatment for azotaemia. Cats with pre-renal azotaemia or urethral obstruction were excluded. Associations between clinical and ultrasonographic results and the dependent variables ‘tentative diagnosis of ureteral obstruction’, ‘pyelography positive for ureteral obstruction’ and ‘death in hospital’ were tested using binary logistic regression.ResultsIn total, 238 cats satisfied the inclusion criteria. Median age was 7 years (range 2 weeks to 20 years), duration of clinical signs was 7 days (range 1 day to 6.3 years) and serum creatinine was 417 μmol/l (range 184–2100 μmol/l). Tentative diagnosis of ureteral obstruction in 92/238 (39%) cats was significantly...