Outcome and complications in goats treated by perineal urethrostomy for obstructive urolithiasis: 25 cases (2010‐2017)

Background Obstructive urolithiasis commonly affects male goats. Perineal urethrostomy (PU) can be a permanent treatment option but is generally considered undesirable because of the risk of stricture of the urethral stoma. Limited information exists regarding long‐term outcome and complications in goats undergoing PU for treatment of obstructive urolithiasis. Objectives To determine short‐term and long‐term outcome and complications in goats undergoing PU for treatment of obstructive urolithiasis. Animals Twenty‐five client‐owned goats. Methods Multi‐institutional retrospective case series. Results Of the 25 goats, 13 (52%) were alive at the time of follow‐up. Mean time from surgery to follow‐up was 34 months (range, 4‐65). Nine goats (36%) died between discharge and follow‐up with a mean survival time of 46 days (range, 5‐120). Cause of death in 7 of 9 (78%) goats was related to urolithiasis. Goats treated by use of a modified proximal perineal urethrostomy (MPPU) were significantly more likely to survive at least 150 days postoperatively ( P  < .01). The most common postoperative complications were hemorrhage (10/25 [40%]) and surgical site infection (3/25 [12%]). Hemorrhage was significantly associated with MPPU ( P  < .0001). Stricture of the surgical stoma occurred in 7 of 22 (32%) discharged goats. Mean time to stricture was 65 days (range, 10‐240). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Perineal urethrostomy can provide effective long‐term resolution of obstructive urolithiasis in goats. Re‐obstruction or stricture seems most likely within the 1st 2 months after surgery. MPPU may provide better long‐term results but should be approached cautiously because it can be associated with life‐threatening hemorrhage.