Experimental Evaluation of Urinary Bladder Marsupialization in Male Goats

Urinary bladder marsupialization has been successful in producing acceptable long-term resolution of clinical cases of obstructive urolithiasis in male goats. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the six-month outcome of urinary bladder marsupialization in male goats.

The urinary bladders of six male goats free from systemic disease were marsupialized following induced urethral obstruction. Renal ultrasonography, complete blood count, and blood chemistry analysis were evaluated preoperatively (day 0), at 7 postoperative days, and at 30-day intervals until 180 postoperative days. Stomal diameter was recorded at each interval. Necropsy examination was performed on day 180 or when stomal stricture or death occurred.

Stomal stricture occurred in one goat at 120 days, and another goat was found dead at 150 days. Necropsy of this goat revealed severe, suppurative cystitis. All goats developed mild urine scald dermatitis. All blood chemistry values remained within normal limits. Significant decreases in white blood cell count, serum creatinine, and stomal diameter were observed from day 0 to day 180. Except for the goat that died at 150 days, all urinary bladders were tubular in shape and the mucosa and serosa of all urinary tract organs appeared grossly normal at necropsy examination.

Histologic evidence of chronic suppurative cystitis and chronic, mild, lymphoplasmacytic pyelitis was present in all goats. Culture of renal tissue yielded bacterial growth in three of six goats, and culture of a swab of the urinary bladder mucosa yielded bacterial growth in all animals.

Although clinical signs of ascending urinary tract infection were not observed in goats with patent stomata, urinary bladder marsupialization may result in ascending inflammation or infection. Based upon the results of this study, urinary bladder marsupialization should be recommended with caution as the primary procedure in clinical cases.