THE LATISSIMUS-DORSI BLADDER MYOPLASTY TO ASSIST DETRUSOR FUNCTION

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether an innervated skel etal muscle might augment detrusor function. In four dogs we performed the latissimus dorsi myoplasty, a transfer of the latissimus muscle a s an innervated free flap wrapped around the bladder. Stimulation of t he latissimus dorsi free flap initially achieved an average bladder pr essure of 45.8 +/- 8.41 cm H2O, sufficient for partial evacuation. Aft er 4 months the muscle generated a maximal pressure of 82 cm H2O, resu lting in an evacuation of 27.7%. For selected patients, the latissimus dorsi bladder myoplasty may provide an alternative to intermittent ca theterization in the future.