Reproducibility of urethral pressure profiles in clinically normal sexually intact female dogs by use of microtransducer catheters

Abstract

Summary 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 2 O), bladder pressure (cm of H 2 O), and anatomic urethral length (cm) were recorded. Maximal urethral closure pressure (cm of H 2 O) was calculated. Mean ± sd (for all measurements) maximal urethral closure pressure was 12.8 ± 5.6 cm of H 2 O (range, 2.4 to 25.2 cm of H 2 O). Maximal urethral closure pressure was significantly ( P < 0.05) decreased during the first recording period (11.4 ± 5.8 cm of H 2 O), compared with the second (13.0 ± 5.2 cm of H 2 O) or third (14.1 ± 5.7 cm of H 2 O) 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 2 O. 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 < 0.05) less during the first recording period (6.1 ± 0.9 cm), compared with values for the second and third periods (6.3 ± 0.9cm, 6.4 ± 0.9 cm respectively). Anatomic urethral length for time 3 was significantly ( P < 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.