Image-guided study of swine anatomy as a tool for urologic surgery research and training.

Purpose: To describe the anatomy of the swine urinary system using computed tomography and to discuss the role of this animal as an experimental model for urological procedures.

Methods: Three male Landrace pigs underwent computed tomography and the anatomy of the urinary system and renal circulation was analyzed and described.

Results: In all animals, 2 kidneys, 2 ureters and one bladder were identified.

Cold renal ischemia: comparison of efficacy between two techniques of cooling, in a swine model.

Objectives: In a swine model of renal ischemia, we compared the effectiveness of the transurethral retrograde cold saline perfusion technique to the traditional method of renal cooling with ice slush, in achieving adequate parenchymal temperatures for functional preservation of the organ. Physiological and histological effects were also assessed.

Methods: Twenty-four domestic male pigs were sampled into four groups to be submitted to a 60-minute ischemia of the left kidney without cooling, with either one of the two cooling techniques (cold saline retrograde perfusion or ice slush), or sham surgery.