EXPRESS: Evaluation of the incidence of haematuria following the placement of subcutaneous ureteral bypass devices in 18 cats (2016-2022).

Post-operative microscopic haematuria is nearly universal after SUB placement but rarely causes clinical signs.

This retrospective study evaluated post-operative haematuria incidence in 18 cats undergoing subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) device placement for benign ureteral obstruction between 2016-2022. All 18 cats (100%) developed microscopic haematuria post-operatively, with 89% detected on first post-operative urinalysis (median 1 month). Persistent microscopic haematuria occurred in 78% of cases, while severe haematuria (≥50 RBC/hpf) developed in 72% of cats. Notably, gross haematuria was clinically evident in only 11% of cases despite high microscopic prevalence. Persistent severe haematuria was documented in 7 cats (median 17 months duration). Importantly, 61% of cats with haematuria had no concurrent positive urine culture at any timepoint. The findings demonstrate that post-operative microscopic haematuria is a frequent complication following SUB placement, though its clinical significance remains unclear. The authors recommend further investigation into the aetiology of haematuria and whether microscopic haematuria represents a clinically relevant concern in this patient population.

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