With a DVM from the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, Dr. Joseph Bisignano is a veterinary internal medicine specialist who heads the internal medicine department of Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital in Los Angeles. Joseph Bisignano, DVM, possesses extensive skills in urological procedures and has received specialized training in minimally invasive techniques. He delivers care to pets afflicted with urinary tract disorders, which encompasses minimally invasive stone removal.
Percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL) is a minimally invasive surgery that efficiently removes abdominal stones in both male and female dogs. The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine recommends PCCL for removing bladder and urethral stones in dogs and cats.
Bladder stones are rock-like precipitations of minerals that obstruct urine flow. Common signs of bladder stones in pets are difficulty urinating and blood in the urine.
PCCL leverages advanced surgical tools to access the interior of the bladder for extracting calculi (stones) through a tiny (6mm) abdominal incision. A veterinarian directs a special magnified scope called a cystoscope through the incision to the bladder to scan the organ for stones and extract the stones.
Compared to traditional open surgical methods that leave some stones behind in 20 percent of cases, PCCL removes all bladder stones in more than 96 percent of cases, according to gointernalmedicine.com. This reduces the chances of recurring stones.
The tiny incision in the PCCL minimizes blood loss, reduces post-operative pain, and facilitates recovery. Veterinarians often discharge pets on the same day of PCCL treatment.
