CONSCIOUS MINIPIG MODEL FOR EVALUATING THE LOWER URINARY-TRACT

An animal model using minipigs to study urodynamic pressure flow relat ionships in the conscious animal is described. Port-catheters were imp lanted subcutaneously in the backs of 22 minipigs with access to the b ladder (to measure intravesical pressure P-ves) and to the peritoneal cavity (to measure abdominal pressure P-abd). The subtracted pressure (P-det = P-ves = P-abd) was recorded during the storage phase followin g Furosemide diuresis. Simultaneously, measurement of urinary flow (Q) during voiding was also recorded. Urodynamic studies were performed s atisfactorily in all animals, and normal urodynamic profiles in minipi gs were established. The minipig model allows reliable and reproducibl e measurement of pressure-flow parameters in a conscious state and in the natural posture. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.