Vetinerary Assistant Practice Exam

What is a cystotomy?

1. An incision of the kidney

2. An incision of the urinary bladder

3. An incision of the stomach

4. An incision of the intestine

The correct answer is: An incision of the urinary bladder

A cystotomy refers specifically to a surgical procedure involving an incision into the urinary bladder. This procedure is often performed to remove bladder stones, tumors, or to obtain biopsies of the bladder lining. It is essential for various diagnostic and therapeutic reasons in veterinary medicine. The urinary bladder plays a crucial role in the storage and excretion of urine, and issues such as urinary blockages or infections can necessitate this type of surgery. By accessing the bladder directly, a veterinarian can address conditions that affect the animal's urinary health. In the context of the other choices, while they also involve surgical incisions, they pertain to different organs and thus serve different medical purposes. An incision in the kidney relates to nephrectomy or kidney surgery, stomach surgery refers to procedures such as gastrotomy, and intestinal surgeries involve various types of enterotomies or resections. Therefore, understanding the specific focus of a cystotomy helps distinguish it clearly from these other surgical terms.