VMRCVM
Search VMRCVM
Small Animal Hospital
Patient Receiving : (540) 231-4621
Hospital FAX : (540) 231-9354

Directions   |   Veterinary Referral Form		 Veterinary Teaching Hospital
VMRCVM, Virginia Tech
Phase III, Duckpond Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Small Animal   Hospitals   VMRCVM

Laser Lithotripsy of Canine Bladder and Urethral Stones

About Laser Lithotripsy

Lithotripsy Candidates
Female or male dogs with bladder or urethral stones. The urethra of male dogs less than 15 lbs. may be too small to insert the endoscope.

Procedure
The patient undergoes general anesthesia and rigid (female) or flexible (female or male) cystoscopy is performed. A laser fiber is passed through the endoscope, placed in contact with the stone, and Holmium:YAG laser energy is then applied causing fragmentation. The procedure is repeated until all stone fragments are small enough to be extracted via endoscopic baskets or voiding urohydropulsion. Length of the procedure is dependent on stone size and number and patient size. Patients are evaluated on day 1, lithotripsy performed on day 2, and then recovered and discharged when appropriate. This means a 2 day, 1-2 night hospital stay. Male dogs with urethral obstruction would have laser lithotripsy performed more expeditiously.

Efficacy
Calcium oxalate, struvite, urate, and cystine stones are all susceptible to laser lithotripsy.

Risks
Thermal injury to the bladder/urethral mucosa is possible but risk is minimal as the laser energy only penetrates <1 mm. Urinary tract penetration with the laser fiber or cystoscope is rare, but possible. Urethral edema with subsequent stranguria or obstruction is possible. The inherent risk of anesthesia is present.


Endoscopic Laser Lithotripsy Images & Video

Urolith

Please watch the video of endoscopic laser lithotripsy of the bladder stone.