The length and collapsibility of the ureter play roles in the augmented reflection of intraabdominal pressure into the renal pelvis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Flow of a fluid through a collapsible tube is under the influence of various factors including the external compressing pressure. The intraabdominal pressure (IAP) should influence the flow through the ureter. Therefore, an experimental study was planned to investigate the effects of ureteral length and external compressing pressure onto the intrapelvic pressure (IPP) in rabbits.

METHODS

Nineteen adult rabbits were used for the experiment. Under general anesthesia, an intraperitoneal and an intrapelvic catheter were placed to measure IAP and IPP. A urethral catheter was placed for bladder decompression. After this standard preparation, a ureteric stent was placed in the ureter in group 1 (n = 7). Distal or proximal ureter transection was performed in group 2 (n = 6) and group 3 (n = 6), respectively. Basal pressure measurements have been recorded. Then the pressures were recorded every 5 minutes, and IAP was increased gradually for 4 cm of water pressure in each subsequent 30-minute period. All analyses were performed for a standard IAP interval (5 to 25 cm H2O).

RESULTS

IAP did not differ between groups (P = .08). IPP values were significantly higher than the corresponding IAP values in each group (P = .0001). IPP showed significant difference between IAP values of groups (P = .0001). IPP was significantly increased in group 2 when compared with group 1 and group 3 (P = .0001; P = .0001), but no difference was encountered between groups 1 and 3 (P = .1). There has been a strong relationship between IPP and IAP values in all groups. The Rsq values were 0.912, 0.783, and 0.943 for group 1, group 2, and group 3, respectively (P < .0001). Mathematic relations between IPP and IAP also were analyzed. The relations were IPP = 3.9 + 1.10 x IAP, IPP = 10.3 + 1.10 x IAP, and IPP = 3.3 + 1.12 x IAP for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Renal pelvis pressure responds with augmented increases to increments in IAP in urinary tracts with different ureteric lengths. Increase in IPP is more pronounced in longer ureters possibly owing to increased resistance to flow. Prevention of ureteric wall collapse reverses the augmented increase in IPP responses. Therefore, both the length and collapsibility of the ureter play a detrimental role in the generation of augmented IPP responses to increments in IAP. The magnitude of IPP as a response to increments in IAP can be estimated by using mathematical relations between IPP and IAP. Increases in IAP may simulate proximal ureteric obstruction and may take part in the pathogenesis of hydronephrosis.