Measurements of urethral pressure profiles in the male horse.

This research focused on profiling urethral pressure in male horses which may help in understanding and diagnosing urinary incontinicence in these animals. This pressure study was shown to be replicable and provided valuable data about normal urethral pressure and how it varies in incontinent horses.

Methodology

• The scientists performed a three-day urinary tract pressure analysis on six healthy geldings (neutered male horses).
• A 1.3-meter-long cuffed catheter was introduced into each horse’s urinary tract while under the effects of xylazine sedation.
• The day-to-day variation was assessed to determine the reproducibility of the method.

Findings

• The average intra-vesicular pressure (IVP, the pressure inside the bladder) observed was 10.3 cmH2O, with a standard deviation of 1.7.
• The highest urethral closure pressures (MUCP, a measure of the urinary tract’s primary containment mechanism) were recorded at 129.8 cmH2O, with a standard deviation of 19.6.
• The ratio between MUCP and IVP was calculated to be 13.2 with a standard deviation of 2.5.

Observations from a gelding with urinary incontinence

• An incontinent gelding showed a significantly lower MUCP at 73.4 cmH2O.
• The MUCP to IVP ratio in this incontinent horse was measured to be 8.0, significantly lower than the average.

Conclusions

• The study concludes that the daily variation in measurements was not significant, indicating that the method is reproducible.
• The difference in MUCP and MUCP to IVP ratio might be an indicator of urinary incontinence and thus, the technique could be useful in diagnosing urinary incontinence in male horses.