- Veterinary View Box
- Posts
- Do you pay attention to this finding in cats?
Do you pay attention to this finding in cats?
AJVR 2014
Régine Bélanger,Cindy L. Shmon, Peter J. Gilbert, et al.
Background
The study aimed to determine the prevalence of circumcaval ureters and other caudal vena cava anomalies in domestic cats and assess whether circumcaval ureters were associated with ureteral obstruction. Circumcaval ureters are anatomic variations where the ureter passes dorsally around the vena cava due to developmental anomalies. While reported as rare, observations during teaching labs suggested this condition might be more common in cats.
Methods
A cross-sectional study examined 301 domestic cat cadavers from an animal shelter. The cats' ureters and vena cava were inspected during student surgery labs, with supervisors documenting abnormalities. Kidneys were measured for length, width, and height, and gross signs of hydronephrosis or ureteral obstruction were noted. Statistical analysis tested for associations between sex, kidney size, and ureteral abnormalities.
Results
-Circumcaval ureters were found in 106 of 301 cats (35.2% prevalence), predominantly right-sided (30.6%). Left-sided (1.3%) and bilateral (3.3%) occurrences were rare.
-Double caudal vena cava was observed in 21 cats (7.0%), occasionally coexisting with circumcaval ureters.
-No significant association between sex and anatomic variations was found.
-Cats with a right circumcaval ureter had significantly larger right kidneys compared to their left kidneys, but no gross evidence of hydronephrosis or ureter dilation was detected.
Limitations
-The study relied on frozen and thawed cadavers, which might introduce measurement errors.
-Histological examination and imaging were not performed, potentially missing subtle pathologies.
-The sample was sourced from a single region, limiting generalizability.
Conclusions
Circumcaval ureters are relatively common in cats, with no evident sex predilection or gross signs of obstruction. Surgeons should consider this variation during procedures involving the urinary tract. Further studies are required to investigate potential clinical implications and correlations with conditions like ureteral obstruction or renal disease.
Photograph of a cat cadaver with a right circumcaval ureter (black arrows). The right ureter leaves the renal hilus perpendicular to the long axis of the kidney. It courses dorsally and to the left of the caudal vena cava (white arrow) before curving markedly back to the right of midline ventral to the caudal vena cava to enter the trigone in a normal anatomic position.
How did we do? |
Disclaimer: The summary generated in this email was created by an AI large language model. Therefore errors may occur. Reading the article is the best way to understand the scholarly work. The figure presented here remains the property of the publisher or author and subject to the applicable copyright agreement. It is reproduced here as an educational work. If you have any questions or concerns about the work presented here, reply to this email.