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An external compress‐release protocol induces dynamic elasticity in the porcine bladder: A novel technique for the treatment of overactive bladder?
Author(s) -
Balthazar Andrea,
Cullingsworth Zachary E.,
Nandanan Naveen,
Anele Uzoma,
Swavely Natalie R.,
Speich John E.,
Klausner Adam P.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/nau.23992
Subject(s) - softening , medicine , biomedical engineering , urinary bladder , materials science , urology , surgery , composite material
Dynamic elasticity is an acutely regulated bladder material property through which filling and passive emptying produce strain softening, and active voiding restores baseline pressure. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that strain softening produced by filling‐passive emptying is equivalent to that produced by compression‐release in a porcine bladder model. Methods/materials Latex balloons and ex vivo perfused pig bladders were used for a series of alternating fill‐passive emptying (“Fill”) and external compress‐release (“Press”) protocols. For the Fill protocol balloons/bladders were (1) filled to defined volumes (prestrain softening), (2) filled to capacity to strain soften (reference), and (3) passively emptied to the original volume (poststrain softening). For the Press protocol, balloons/bladders were (1) filled to defined volumes (prestrain softening), (2) externally compressed to reference pressure and then released for five cycles (poststrain softening). After each protocol, bladders were voided with high‐KCl buffer to induce “active” voiding. Results In both balloons and porcine bladder, both the Fill and Press protocols produced significant strain softening ( P < 0.05) and poststrain softening pressures were not different for Fill and Press protocols ( P > 0.05), indicating a similar degree of strain softening with both methods. Conclusions Repeated external compression can induce bladder strain softening similar to filling and passive emptying. This technique may represent a means to acutely regulate bladder compliance and potentially be used as a mechanical treatment for urinary urgency.