Transobturator vaginal tape inside out for treatment of urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence in female dogs: cadaveric study and preliminary study in continent female dogs.
OBJECTIVE
(1) To describe a surgical technique adapted from the "transobturator vaginal tape inside-out" (TVT-O) used in women and to define the trajectory of the tape on canine cadavers, and (2) to determine the urodynamic and morphological effects of the TVT-O in continent bitches.


METHODS
Cadaveric and experimental in vivo study.


METHODS
Fresh female canine cadavers (n=12) and spayed female Beagle dogs (2).


METHODS
(1) TVT-O was inserted in 12 cadavers. Dissection was performed and distances between the tape and neighboring structures were recorded. (2) TVT-O was inserted in 2 continent female Beagle dogs. Urethral pressure profilometry and vaginourethrograms were performed preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and 2, 4, and 6 months postoperatively. Histopathology was performed 6 months after surgery.


RESULTS
(1) TVT-O tape was consistently located in a perineal space before entering the obturator foramina and was located at a safe distance from major neurovascular structures including the femoral vessels and obturator nerve. (2) TVT-O was performed without any surgical or postoperative complications in 2 continent bitches. Histopathologic examination of the tissues surrounding the tape revealed a mild fibroblastic proliferation with a mild to minimal lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltration.


CONCLUSIONS
TVT-O is a feasible and accurate procedure that can be performed in continent bitches with a low risk of complications.
Claeys
Stéphanie
S
Department of Clinical Sciences (Companion Animals), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. stephanie.claeys@ulg.ac.be
Ruel
Hélène
H
de Leval
Jean
J
Heimann
Marianne
M
Hamaide
Annick
A
D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D053825:Suburethral Slings / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014521:Urethra / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D014563:Urodynamics; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*