Ectopic Ureters
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If you are reading this page the chances are that you have a puppy (probably female) with urinary incontinence and you have been told that she may have “ectopic ureters.”  Most likely, your puppy has not responded completely to treatment for bladder infection and seems to have more than just a house-breaking problem. If she really does have an ectopic ureter or even two ectopic ureters, the only chance at resolving the incontinence is through surgery. This is expensive and often unsuccessful so it is important for one to know what one is getting into.

WHAT ARE ECTOPIC URETERS?

Before it is possible to understand ectopic ureters, one must understand the normal anatomy of the urinary tract. The kidneys (there are two of them) sit in the lower back where they are at work every moment of our lives from cradle to grave. The kidneys represent a very advanced waste filtration system where the end product is urine: a water-based solution into which the body’s waste chemicals are dissolved.

Urine is made continuously and transported to the urinary  bladder for storage. The tiny pipelines through which the urine is transported from kidney to bladder are the ureters (one for the left kidney and one for the right kidney). The bladder stores the urine until it can be voluntarily unloaded. The chute that connects the bladder with the outside world is the urethra.

This is a good system and it works well most of the time. We constantly filter unwanted wastes yet we do not dribble urine constantly. We store our urine until we want to use it for territorial marking or perhaps until it is simply sanitary and convenient to get rid of it.

Ectopic ureters represent an embryological error in the development of this tract. Instead of connecting to the bladder, the ureters connect to the urethra, the vagina, or even the uterus. The ureters are thus bringing urine to an area inequipped for urine storage. Incontinence and infection are the usual outcome. Most affected animals are female and often there are multiple internal urinary anatomical abnormalities.

SIGNS OF ECTOPIC URETERS

The patient is usually a female puppy under age one year with the following:

  • Urine leaking or dribbling at times but normal urination at other times.
     
  • Licking of the genital area. Often urine leakage has caused a rash in this area.
     
  • Bladder infection is present in 64% of ectopic ureter patients.

It should be noted that an uncomplicated bladder infection would cause all of the above as well and would be a far more common explanation. Ectopic ureters are rare and it is important to look for more common explanations of the above. Many puppies demonstrate submissive urination or have house-breaking problems and these should be ruled out as well. A urinalysis and culture will determine if a bladder infection is present and which antibiotics will work against it. A basic blood panel will assess kidney function.

If the incontinence and/or infection continues despite appropriate treatment, further diagnostic steps will be needed.

RADIOGRAPHS – “PLAIN” AND “CONTRAST”

A plain radiograph would be the next step after urine evaluation.  A radiograph is like a photograph only instead of using light to expose a piece of film, x-rays are used to expose the film. Gross abnormalities with the shape or size of the kidneys can be seen as can certain types of bladder stones. The problem is that the ureters themselves are too small to be seen on a radiograph; special contrast is needed.

Contrast media are special dyes, often iodine-based. On a radiograph, they appear white and are used to highlight small structures or separate overlapping structures.

THE INTRAVENOUS PYELOGRAM (“I.V.P.”)

    The I.V.P. is a contrast radiographic study used to identify the ectopic ureters.  The patient is fasted and given an enema to ensure that the GI tract is cleared of any contents that might obscure the view of the tiny ureters. Contrast dye is given intravenously and radiographs are taken showing the dye move through the kidneys, the ureters, and into the bladder. The normal ureter can be seen on its course to the bladder in this way. This test is associated with 60-70% accuracy.

ULTRASOUND

    Ultrasound uses the echoes of sound waves to create an image. With an experienced imager, the accuracy of ulrasound in the diagnosis of ectopic ureters is similar to that of the I.V.P. The normal ureter is too small to be seen with ultrasound but the tiny squirt of urine from the ureter into the bladder is generally visible. If the ureter is distended (often the case with ectopic ureters), this could be seen using ultrasound. Ultrasound is less invasive to the patient than the I.V.P. and less work for the veterinary staff.

CYSTOSCOPY

    Cystoscopy is generally used to clear up the cases where one simply is not sure if there is an ectopic ureter or not after the above testing. Cystoscopy employs a tiny camera on the end of a probe which can be used inside the urethra, vagina, or bladder to locate the ureteral openings. Patients should weigh at least 7lbs for this procedure and, since most hospitals are not equipped for cystoscopy, referral is likely needed.

TREATMENT OF THE ECTOPIC URETER

The moment of truth comes with surgical exploration with intent to correct the incontinence.  The patient’s urinary bladder will be opened and the ureteral openings located. Some ectopic ureters go to the bladder as they are supposed to but instead of entering the bladder, simply course along the outside of the bladder to end elsewhere. During surgery both ureters are identified and followed to their terminal points. One of the following surgical techniques will be used depending on where the ureters are going.

NEOURETEROSTOMY (read “Neo-ureter-ostomy”)

    This word literally means “new-ureter-opening” which is somewhat self explanatory. This procedure is used for ureters that attach to the bladder but do not actually enter the bladder (as described above). Here, an opening into the bladder is made where the ureter attaches but has failed to penetrate. The part of the ureter beyond this opening is simply removed.

    Candidate for Neoureterostomy

NEOURETEROCYSTOSTOMY (read “Neo-uretero-cystostomy”)

    This word literally means “new-ureter and bladder opening.”  This technique is used for ureters that bypass the urinary bladder totally and connect elsewhere.  The offending ureter is located, tied off, and gently teased away from its inappropriate connection so as to preserve its blood supply. A new opening in the urinary bladder is made, the ureter is pulled through, snipped short, and sewed in place being sure not to twist it. There is usually swelling at the site of the new attachment which interrupts the urine flow into the bladder and can distend the ureter. Urine may back up into the kidney and cause damage to the kidney. The swelling generally has resolved after 6 weeks but if both ureters undergo the same procedure at the same time, then both kidneys may suffer enough damage to lead to kidney failure.

    Candidate for Neoureterocystostomy

NEPHROURETERECTOMY (read “Nephro-ureter-etomy”)

    This word literally means “removal of the kidney and ureter,” a self-explanatory definition. If the kidney is so infected or diseased as to be useless, it is just as well to remove the ureter and the entire kidney. One would not undertake this procedure unless the other kidney was normal or near normal.

COMPLICATIONS

Several days of hospitalization are required after this kind of surgery; the patient will not be going home the next day. Expect antibiotics and pain relief medications to be prescribed for home use.

Most patients will have urinary straining and some discomfort after surgery. A urinary catheter is generally in place for a day or two after surgery to prevent bladder distension during the first days of healing.

Incontinence is likely to continue to be present after surgery but in 55% of dogs it was improved.  Several studies have been done to determine the incidence of total incontinence resolution and depending on the study 33%-58% actually were free of their incontinence. With anatomy corrected, however, medication for urinary incontinence is likely to be much more successful than it would have been prior to surgery.

If incontinence is still intractable 2-3 months after surgery, a new I.V.P. should be performed to assess the surgical result. Surgical procedures to specifically address incontinence can be performed. For more details visit the page on Urinary Incontinence.
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