Intravesical foreign body causing a cystolith in a gelding

A 4-year-old gelding was referred to the clinic with a history of haematuria and stranguria after exercise. Transrectal examination and endoscopy of the urinary bladder revealed the presence of a cystolith. The patient underwent general anaesthesia to remove the bladder stone through a para-inguinal approach. A layer of calcium carbonate was found covering a foreign body acting as the nidus of the urolith. The foreign body was a 4 x 3 cm rubber tie of unknown origin. Surgery and recovery were uneventful without recurrence of clinical signs for up to 2 years after surgery. This is the first published report describing a laparocystotomy for removal of a cystolith secondary to an intravesical foreign body in a gelding. Migration of a foreign body into the urinary bladder, although very uncommon, is possible.

Automated summary

This article described a case of a 4-year-old gelding with a history of hematuria and stranguria after exercise. The imaging revealed the presence of a cystolith, which was successfully removed through laparocystotomy. A foreign body, a rubber tie of unknown origin, was found as the nidus of the urolith. The surgery and recovery were uneventful for up to 2 years postoperatively. This is the first published report on the laparocystotomy for removal of a cystolith secondary to an intravesical foreign body in a gelding. Although rare, migration of a foreign body into the urinary bladder is possible.