Immediate urodynamic and anatomic response to colposuspension in female Beagles

Objective-To characterize urodynamic function and anatomy before and after colposuspension in anesthetized female Beagles. Animals-12 adult female Beagles. Procedure-During general anesthesia (thiopental sodium induction and haloth ane maintenance), urethral pressure profiles, leak point pressure measureme nts with a 50-ml bladder volume, positive contrast cystograms, and retrogra de vaginourethrocystograms were performed. A caudal midline laparotomy was used to perform colposuspension. Urodynamic and radiographic studies were r epeated after surgery. Results-Leak point pressures were increased (120 to 168.9 cm H2O), and maxi mum urethral closure pressures decreased (43.7 to 19.3 cm H2O) after colpos uspension. The urethra and bladder were moved cranially; the external ureth ral orifice was positioned closer to the pelvic cavity, and the neck of the bladder was positioned more cranially into the abdomen. Length of the uret hra, as measured by use of vaginourethrocystograms, was increased by 3 %. A s measured by use of urethral pressure profiles, total profile length was i ncreased by 19.9%, and functional profile length was increased by 19.2%. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Increased leak-point pressure correlated with the expected clinical improvement attributable to colposuspension. In creased exposure of the urethra to abdominal and pelvic cavity pressures ma y be the mechanism by which incontinent dogs become continent after colposu spension, Results of the leak-point pressure test may correlate with clinic al behavior before and after colposuspension for treatment of incontinence.