AAFP Gives Consensus Statement on Urolithiasis Treatment
At AAFP Conference 2022, the American Association of Feline Practitioners has declared Consensus Statement on the Approaches to Urolithiasis Treatment. The statement consists of guidelines for managing cystoliths in cats oriented to the patient's needs and supported by research.
According to the authors, Drs. Marilyn Dunn, Matthew Koryna, and Jody Lulich: “Feline urolithiasis is a common cause of lower urinary tract signs. Dissolution and minimally invasive procedures remain a cornerstone of management. Some practitioners may struggle to decide when and how to perform dissolution and other minimally invasive treatments. This new Consensus Statement provides clarity in the management of feline lower urinary stones.”
Conventionally, veterinarian surgeons used to handle urolith in animals. But the availability of therapeutic diets, special equipment, and new technologies, as well as improved knowledge of the causes and risk factors of urolith development, have altered this strategy.
Important Highlights of the Consensus Statement
Important key points of the consensus statement include:
- Veterinarians should make an effort to anticipate the makeup of uroliths based on the characteristics of each patient, the findings of radiography tests, and the results of urine tests.
- Before surgery, surgeons should try dissolution.
- Prior to an open cystotomy, minimally invasive procedures have to be advised.
Moreover, the consensus statement covers various topics, including how to tell if a cat has stones, urolith types, and the importance of predicting its composition before removal. It also includes the right approach to dissolution, minimally invasive methods for removing bladder uroliths, and steps to prevent it.
