Comparative evaluation of ultrasound-guided keyhole versus open surgical tube cystostomy for management of obstructive urolithiasis in buffalo calves with an intact urinary bladder

The present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the efficacy and postoperative complications of ultrasound-guided keyhole tube cystostomy (KHTC) and open surgical tube cystostomy (OSTC) for the management of obstructive urolithiasis in buffalo calves with an intact urinary bladder. Eighty-four calves were randomly divided into two groups: KHTC (n = 42) and OSTC (n = 42). Diagnosis was based on clinical signs, radiography, and ultrasonography. Most cases involved intact male calves aged 3–5 months and were associated with seasonal variation and high-phosphorus diets. Reduced water intake and high dietary phosphorus were identified as major predisposing factors. All surgeries were performed under lumbosacral epidural anesthesia using 2% lignocaine. The mean surgical time was significantly shorter (p < 0.05) in ultrasound-guided KHTC (11.22 ± 3 min) compared to OSTC (25.90 ± 4 min). Although postoperative complications such as catheter blockage (9.7% vs 19.5%), wound abscess (4.8% vs 19.5%), and catheter dislodgement (7.3% vs 12.2%) were numerically lower in the KHTC group, the differences were not statistically significant. Return to normal urination occurred significantly earlier (p < 0.05) in ultrasound-guided KHTC (8.439 days) than in OSTC (11.88 days). The findings indicate that ultrasound-guided KHTC is a minimally invasive and time-efficient technique with faster recovery; however, its advantage over OSTC in terms of postoperative complications could not be statistically confirmed.