Use of a hydraulic occluder to control urinary incontinence in a cat after prepubic urethrostomy for post-trauma urethral injury.

CASE SUMMARY: An 8-year-old castrated male cat presented with a 7-year history of urinary incontinence (UI) and severe urinary scalding (US) caused by continuous urine leakage after prepubic urethrostomy (PPU) performed at 5 months of age for urinary trauma. The patient experienced significant pain and discomfort associated with US. Despite attempts at medical management, the patient's condition did not improve. Consequently, a hepatic occluder (HO) device was implanted around the shortened urethra after the PPU. Gradual occluder inflation was conducted over approximately 13 weeks to facilitate sphincter function recovery. The HO device effectively improved and controlled the UI, significantly enhancing the patient's quality of life and satisfying the owners.

RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: This case report describes the successful use of an HO to manage UI in a cat with a structurally irregular and shortened urethra resulting from traumatic injury and multiple prior surgeries. Urethral sphincter occluders, including HO, may represent a viable salvage option for managing UI in cats with complex urethral anatomy.