June 15, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Andrew Basso
739 Overlook Drive • Columbus, Ohio 43214
June 15, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COUGAR TO UNDERGO INNOVATIVE KIDNEY PROCEDURE
A privately owned American Western Cougar, North America's largest predatory feline, is being brought to Columbus, Ohio Tuesday, June 22, 1999 for a rare veterinary kidney stone treatment.
The procedure will be preformed by Dr. Bruce E. Woodworth, M.D. of Ohio Urology, Inc. who, according to the prestigious Woodward/White, Inc., is one of the nation's leading urologists. He is a Clinical Faculty member at The Ohio State University, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery and a partner with Ohio Urology, Inc. Dr. Woodworth was chosen to preform the procedure based on his extensive research on cat endoscopy with Dr.'s C.A. "Tony" Buffington, D.V.M., Ph.D. and Dennis Chew, D.V.M. of the Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine.
"The cat has a large stone in the mid-portion of the ureter that must be removed," stated Dr. Woodworth. " This obstruction could lead to eventual loss of the kidney. Hopefully, we will be able to fracture the stone into small fragments that will pass and result in unblocking the kidney."
Dr. Woodworth will perform the procedure, called a lithotripsy, at 12:00 noon on the 22nd at the American Kidney Stone Management facility in Columbus. The A.K.S.M., the third largest lithotripsy company in the country, is a privately owned company located on the campus of Riverside Hospital. Ms. Ann Stevens, Vice President of Operations for A.K.S.M. explained the lithotripsy procedure, " The kidney stone is bombarded with shock waves, which break the stone into small particles which can then easily pass through the urinary tract. This procedure has been highly successful in humans and generally is accepted as the primary treatment for the removal of kidney stones. Although we've never preformed it on an animal this size, the results should be the same and our big kitty should leave here feeling a whole lot better."
Dr. Woodworth will be assisted by Dr. Michael F. Cunningham, M.D., also a Clinical Faculty member of The Ohio State University, Division of Urology and a practicing physician with Ohio Urology, Inc. and Dr. Dennis Chew, D.V.M. of the Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine.
The press will be permitted to observe and photograph the procedure and both Ms. Stevens and Dr. Woodworth will be available for questions immediately following the procedure at 3:00 PM at the American Kidney Stone Management facility, 3525 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43214.
Contacts:
Ms. Ann Stevens, American Kidney Stone Management, 614/447-0281 - 800/637-5188
Dr. Bruce E. Woodworth, M.D., Ohio Urology, Inc., 614/459-7600 - 888/684-7763