Urethral hyperthermia: an alternative to urethrectomy.

Nine male dogs were subjected to cystoprostatectomy, ileal loop diversion, and urethral hyperthermia. Five of the 9 dogs survived six weeks. Three of the 5 surviving dogs had complete destruction of the urethral epithelium, and the other 2 dogs had 95 per cent and 50 per cent destruction with the proximal urethral end incompletely destroyed. Complete urethral destruction may have been obtained with resection of the proximal urethra postirrigation. The irrigation added no extra time to the surgical procedure and was accompanied by few complications. Complications may have been averted with a dorsal slit and meatotomy.