SIMULTANEOUS URETHRAL PRESSURE PROFILOMETRY USING MICROTIP TRANSDUCER CATHETERS IN THE BITCH - A COMPARISON OF CATHETER MATERIAL

Simultaneous urethral pressure profilometry using an 8FG polyurethane microtip transducer catheter in the bitch is subject to considerable variation, Marked differences occur in the parameters normally measured due to the orientation of the transducers and patient position. It has been suggested that a softer catheter may result in less variation. In this study, a comparison was made between 8FG polyurethane and silicone rubber microtip transducer catheters in 35 bitches. There were significant variations in both maximum urethral closure pressure and functional profile length due to catheter type (P < 0–001). Resting intravesical pressure varied with the recording transducer (P < 0–001) and there was a significant interaction between catheter type and recording transducer (P < 0–001). Radiographic measurements on 15 bitches suggested that variations in recorded intravesical pressure were probably related to the location of the transducers of the two catheters within the bladder. It is concluded that the use of a softer catheter material alone is insufficient to eliminate variations resulting from the orientation of the recording sensors within the urethra. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved