Blood circulation in the urethra during hypovolemia--an experimental study.

The changes in urethral blood circulation caused by hypovolemia were studied in male piglets to simulate the hemodynamic changes during extracorporeal perfusion used in open-heart surgery. Changes caused by mild pancreatitis were studied which produced a similar reduction in urethral blood flow measured by microspheres comparable to a 34% hemorrhage of the circulating blood volume. According to this study the urethral mucosa is very sensitive to hemodynamic changes. It may be the case that catheter toxicity is more significant when the urethral blood flow is diminished.