Nonpulsatile arterial waveforms: observations during graded testicular torsion in rats.

RATIONALE AND

OBJECTIVES

We tested whether testicular torsion could completely damp distal arterial pulsatility, resulting in venous-appearing arterial waveforms.

METHODS

Progressively increasing testicular torsion was unilaterally produced in five rats. Doppler waveforms of the testicular artery distal to the torsion were obtained as soon as possible after each level of torsion until a complete absence of pulsatility was noted.

RESULTS

One animal was not studied further after the first 180 degrees of torsion occluded flow. In three of the remaining four animals, the testicular artery resistive index (RI) at baseline (0.51, 0.58, 0.64) was within the range of the normal human intratesticular RI and decreased with increasing torsion, culminating in nonpulsatile, venous-appearing waveforms at high degrees of torsion.

CONCLUSIONS

Testicular torsion can completely damp arterial pulsatility, resulting in nonpulsatile, venous-appearing arterial Doppler waveforms.