Experimental ureteral lengthening in dogs.
The right ureters of eight dogs were divided and the end of the proximal segments were attached to a spring generating a constant tension force of 26 to 30 mm Hg. After 2 weeks, the segments had elongated by an average of 33%; one segment did not elongate because of a spring failure. Six of the seven elongated segments were viable. Microscopically, the segments revealed muscular hypertrophy, increased collagen and elastic tissue, and periureteral inflammation and edema. This study indicates that a dog ureter may be mechanically elongated and its tissue viability maintained by applying a constant tension external stretching force.
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D011312:Pressure; D014513:Ureter / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*