Division of Surgery, IVRI, Izatnagar-243 122 (UP)
Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar-585 401 (Karnataka)
The study was conducted in six uncastrated male buffalo calves weighing 50–75 (avg. 64) kg body wt and aged between 3 and 10 months (avg. 7 months) were presented with the history of retention of urine from 2–7 days (avg. 4 days). The clinical signs exhibited were anuria, dullness, depression, rough body coat, sunken eyes, prolapse of anus (n=1), bilateral distension of abdomen (ruptured urinary bladder; n=5) and urethral pulsation with frequent attempts of urination in one calf with intact urinary bladder and urethra. The heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were found high in 2, 5 and 2 calves, respectively. Haemoglobin and packed cell volume were within the normal range except in two calves, where it was found high. The calves were restrained in right lateral recumbency with the flexed and abducted left hind limb under lumbosacral epidural analgesia. A 5–8 cm long skin incision was given at the site and entered the peritoneal cavity after separating the subcutaneous tissue and abdominal muscles. A subcutaneous tunnel was made anteriorly parallel to the midline and Foley's catheter was pulled up to the skin incision site and from where it was thrust into the intact urinary bladder. In case of ruptured urinary bladder, first cystorrhaphy was done and then Foley's catheter was placed into the urinary bladder after giving a nick at the ventral site. When the urine started coming through Foley's catheter, the balloon was inflated by infusing 10-5 mL of 0.9% normal saline solution. Skin incision was closed by standard procedure and the extra portion of the catheter was tied with lateral abdominal wall by putting 5–6 stitches. After 2–3 days of operation, the exit of the Foley's catheter was closed initially for the 2–3 hours in a day and then increased up to 4–5 hours per day to create pressure to dislodge the calculi from urethra. Once urine started dribbling from the external urethral orifice, the catheter was closed for 6–8 hours per day. When urine started coming freely from the external urethral opening, the exit of catheter was closed permanently for 3–4 days and if no obstruction was noticed during the period, the Foley's catheter was removed from the urinary bladder after deflating the balloon. In four calves, obstruction was relieved in 15 to 25 days. In one calf, urethra was ruptured on day 10, which was managed by post-scrotal ischial urethrostomy. The other calf did not report for the follow-up examination.
