Urethral pressure profilometry in mares.

The research article discusses a new technique for measuring urethral pressure profiles (UPP) in mares, including those with and without urinary incontinence. The study shows that the method is simple, dependable and provides objective evaluation of urethral pressures.

Overview of the Research

• The key aim of this research was to develop an efficient and reliable procedure for recording urethral pressure profiles (UPP) in mares.
• The researchers conducted this procedure on 12 mares that were clinically normal and 3 mares with urinary incontinence.
• The main variables observed in these profiles were intravesicular pressure and maximal urethral closure pressure. Intravesicular pressure pertains to the pressure within the bladder, while maximal urethral closure pressure is the maximum pressure at which the urethra can shut.

Findings of the Research

• One significant finding from this research was that the mean maximal urethral closure pressure of the incontinent mares was notably lower than that observed in normal mares. The divergence of these measurements was statistically significant (P less than or equal to 0.001).
• The lower urethral closure pressure in incontinent mares suggests that the incontinence could possibly result from the mares’ inability to achieve sufficient pressure to close the urethra effectively, leading to unintended leakage of urine.

Implications of the Research

• This newly developed technique presents a simple and reliable method for objectively evaluating the urethral pressures in mares.
• By providing an objective measure, this method could prove invaluable in clinical evaluations of mares, particularly those with urinary incontinence.
• The study’s findings provide a basic understanding of the underlying physiological differences in the urethras of mares with and without urinary incontinence. This could be beneficial in directing further research or potentially influencing clinical treatment approaches for incontinent mares in the future.