Reproducibility of urethral pressure profiles in clinically normal sexually intact female dogs by use of microtransducer catheters
Arnold, S.; Chew, D.J.; Hubler, M.; Casal, M.; Wiestner, T.; Hogg, H.; Heckmann, R.; Powers, J.; Ruesch, P.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 54(8): 1347-1351
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 8214908 Document Number: 415815
Urethral pressures profiles (UPP) obtained by use of microtransducer catheters were determined in 8 anestrous sexually intact female Beagles during general anesthesia. A UPP study consisted of 3 consecutive recordings, and 4 UPP studies were repeated at an interval of 5 days in each dog. Maximal urethral pressure (cm of H-2O), bladder pressure (cm of H-2O), and anatomic urethral length (cm) were recorded. Maximal urethral closure pressure (cm of H-2O) was calculated. Mean +- SD (for all measurements) maximal urethral closure pressure was 12.8 +- 5.6 cm of H-2O (range, 2.4 to 25.2 cm of H-2O). Maximal urethral closure pressure was significantly (P lt 0.05) decreased during the first recording period (11.4 +- 5.8 cm of H-2O), compared with the second (13.0 +- 5.2 cm of H-2O) or third (14.1 +- 5.7 cm of H-2O) recording periods within a UPP study (3 consecutive recordings). Mean maximal difference in urethral closure pressure during a single UPP study was 4.8 +- 2.4 cm of H-2O. Significant difference in maximal urethral closure pressure was not observed between studies. Mean (for all measurements) anatomic urethral length was 6.2 +- 0.9 cm (4.1 to 7.8 cm). Anatomic urethral length was significantly (P lt 0.05) less during the first recording period (6.1 +- 0.9 cm), compared with values for the second and third periods (6.3 +- 0.9 cm, 6.4 +- 0.9 cm respectively). Anatomic urethral length for time 3 was significantly (P lt 0.05) less than the value for time 1 (5.8 +- 0.7 cm vs 6.6 +- 0.8 cm). We conclude that the microtransducer catheter technique for measurement of upp was reproducible during a single study and between successive studies. This method is useful in documenting maximal urethral pressure, maximal urethral closure pressure, and anatomic urethral length in clinically normal sexually intact female dogs.