MVSc

Vesico-colostomy and vesico –rectostomy as methods of urinary diversion in dogs and cats had been reported. The following experiments were undertaken to assess the relative efficacy of either of these techniques.

Surgery was performed in two groups of dogs. Under genral anaesthesia, after laparotomy, in the vesico-colostomy group, the fundus of the bladder was anastomosed to the terminal part of descending colon; and in vesico-rectostomy group, the neck of the bladder was anastomosed to the anterior part of rectum.

In addition to general observations, the postoperative changes in haemoglobin content, leucocyte count, and blood urea nitrogen level were also recorded and are compared to the preoperative levels. Their clinical significance was also assessed.

The experimental dogs acquired physiological control over micturition through the anus within three to four days and there was no soiling of the perineum, though no indwelling catcheter was used. The animals were kept under observation for a period up to four weeks and were later sacrificed.

Two of the four dogs in vesico-colostomy group was in apparent good health after surgery. Of the other two, one animal died on the 17th day and autopsy revealed nephritis of the left kidney. The other died on the 22nd day and in it the ostium was seen to be closed completely by scar tissue. In the vesico- rectostomy group, three of the four dogs were in apparent good health. One dog in the group showed symptoms of uraemia and died on the 11th day but no abnormally at the level of anastomosis could be detected at autopsy. Haematological studies, in animals of both the groups did not reveal any significant changes except in one dog which had uraemia.

Intravenous pyelography after one month, in 2 dogs of vesico-rectostomy group, revealed normal kidney function and emptying of the bladder.

At autopsy the areas of anastomoses were studied (grossly and histopathologically) and urine samples were cultured to check up infection. E.coli, streptococci, staphylococci and certain gram negative organisms were isolated from the urine samples collected at autopsy in all animals.

In the vesico- rectostomy group the ostium was well established and patent in all animals. In the vesico – colostomy group, there was constriction of ostium in one and in another the ostium was completely closed by scar tissue formation; but the remaining cases were apparently normal.

Histopathological examination of bladder, colon and rectum revealed complete healing of the corresponding layers of tissues at the site of anastomosis in the successful cases of either group. Mild cystitis was observed at postmortem in three animals, one in Group I and two animals in Group II. There was faecal regurgitation into the bladder in three cases one from Group I and two from Group II.

It is concluded that either vesico-colostomy or vesico-rectostomy could be adopted as urinary diversion technique in dogs; but vesico – rectostomy appeared to be more desirable than vesico – colostomy.