title: Acute lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI)-induced lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) by monitoring systemic and urodynamic parameters using an implantable telemetry system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single lateral fluid percussion TBI (FP-TBI; 3.4 atm) was administered to 10 female rats. Pressure micro-catheters were implanted in the abdominal aorta and bladder dome for simultaneous data recording. Hemodynamic and urodynamic variables recorded 24 hr before and 24 hr after injury were analyzed and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TBI in the acute phase resulted in LUTD affecting bladder emptying, characterized by failure of voiding reflex, high capacity bladder, increased voided volume, prolonged intermicturition intervals, and loss of compliance. The dominant symptom was urinary retention (100%) and incontinence (60%). The effects followed a pattern of initial loss of bladder function followed by either altered recovery of reflex micturition or a period of incontinence. With a moderate injury symptoms were temporary in 90% of animals and permanent in 10% of animals. Injury produced only transient hypertension (≤1 hr) with a maximum systolic pressure of 172.64 ± 14.53 mmHg (70% of animals).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate that experimental FP-TBI causes temporary bladder dysfunction that in more severe cases becomes permanent. Telemetry recordings revealed a sequence of events following injury that establishes moderate TBI as a risk factor for neurogenic bladder disorder. Results also suggest a correlation between lateral FP-TBI and incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Moody
authors.forename: Caleb
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liberman
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zvara
authors.forename: Phillip P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Kalev
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zvarova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: bladder dysfunction; cystometry; fluid percussion injury; telemetry; traumatic brain injury