Pedicled Rectus Abdominis Muscle Flap Wrapped around the Penis for Enhanced Urethral Pressure: An Experimental Study in Dogs

Abstract

Purpose: It was the aim of this study to investigate the possibility of pedicled rectus abdominis muscle fascial flap wrapped around the penis for enhanced urethral pressure in dogs. Materials andMethods: Ten adult male Beagle dogs underwent a procedure in which surrounding tissue of the penis at the site of the bulbomembranous urethra was dissected and a pedicled rectus abdominis muscle fascial flap was wrapped around the penis. Profilometry of the urethral pressure was carried out before, during and after the operation in all dogs. Results: Before the operation, the mean maximal urethral pressure (MUP) was 48.9 ± 11 cm H₂O, and the mean MUP was 78.3 ± 20.5 cm H₂O after the penis was surrounded by a rectus muscle flap. There was a significant difference (t = 4.99, p = 0.0007). Ten weeks after the operation, the mean MUP was 88.3 ± 22.4 cm H₂O, which was significantly higher than that before the operation (t = 6.0584, p = 0.0002). Conclusions: A pedicled rectus abdominis muscle fascial flap wrapped around the penis can raise the urethral pressure. This provided an experiment basis for treating male urinary incontinence with a pedicled rectus muscle flap.

Penis Allotransplantation in Beagle Dog

“…The structures of the penis of Beagle dogs are very similar to the human penis [ 19 ]. In the present study, allogeneic penile transplantations using microsurgery were performed in Beagles to investigate the graft survival and the restoration of urination function, with a focus on recovery of blood supply and changes in tissue architecture.…”