NEPHRECTOMY FOR HYDRONEPHROSIS SECONDARY TO TRAUMATIC URETERAL LIGATION FOLLOWING OVARIECTOMY: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Hydronephrosis is characterized by dilation of the renal pelvis and ureter due to upper urinary tract obstruction, which may result in progressive loss of renal function. Among its causes, iatrogenic complications associated with surgical procedures should be considered. This report describes a case of unilateral nephrectomy in a 10-year-old, 25.4-kg female Pitbull dog that developed hydronephrosis secondary to traumatic ligation of the right ureter following ovariectomy. The condition had a chronic course, and the patient was monitored for five years after the initial diagnosis without evident acute clinical signs. Diagnosis was established by ultrasonography, which revealed marked dilation of the renal pelvis and ureter, as well as structural changes consistent with irreversible functional impairment of the right kidney. Based on these findings and the patient's clinical stability, nephrectomy was chosen as the definitive treatment. The surgical procedure was successfully performed, and gross examination of the excised kidney and ureter confirmed the presence of a previous ureteral ligation responsible for the obstruction and subsequent organ degeneration. The postoperative period was uneventful, with normal renal biochemical parameters and satisfactory clinical recovery. This case highlights the importance of thorough anatomical knowledge and meticulous surgical technique during ovariectomy to prevent severe iatrogenic complications. Furthermore, it reinforces nephrectomy as an effective therapeutic option for irreversible hydronephrosis and emphasizes the need for continuous clinical follow-up and careful diagnostic investigation in patients with a history of abdominal surgery, even in the absence of evident clinical signs.