AUTOAUGMENTATION OMENTOCYSTOPLASTY IN A SHEEP MODEL

Objective. To develop a sheep model of autoaugmentation omentocystopla sty and study the histologic appearance, and to compare the urodynamic results with a control group. Methods. Ten male lambs underwent a bla dder autoaugmentation reinforced with an omental patch. Three were cul led early, to study urothelial survival and inflammatory changes. One was sacrificed at six months to assess late histologic changes; five s heep had a urodynamic study at that stage and two died of unknown caus es without further investigation. A group of seven six-month-old male sheep, of similar weights, formed the control urodynamic group. Result s. The urothelial lining remained viable under the omentum, but marked inflammation and heterotopic calcification were seen within the subep ithelial tissues in most of the animals. The histologic changes were r eflected in the bladder dynamic data, which were no better than the co ntrol group; the average compliance value was 9.2 +/- 6.4 mL/cm H2O, c ompared to the control group figure of 11.8 +/- 5.2 mL/cm H2O. Conclus ions. It would appear that autoaugmentation alone does not usually pro duce bladder augmentation in the sheep.