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Animal models in urinary diversion
Alexander Roosen1, Christopher R J Woodhouse, Daniel N Wood
1Department of Urology, Ludwig-Maximilians University Medical School, Munich, Germany. a_roosen@hotmail.com
BJU International
|September 16, 2011
Summary
This review questions the value of animal models in urinary diversion research due to poor standardization and validity. Many studies show inconsistent results, limiting their clinical applicability in urology.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Experimental Surgery
- Animal Models
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding the methodological quality and standardization of animal research in urinary diversion.
- Limited systematic reviews and inadequate reporting further question the effectiveness of animal experimentation in this field.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess the value and methodology of animal experimentation in urinary diversion using intestinal segments.
- To evaluate the consistency, validity, and applicability of findings from animal models to clinical urology.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive MEDLINE literature search (1966-2011) using terms: urinary diversion, urinary reservoirs, continent, rat, dog, animal models.
- Evaluation of 159 relevant full-length papers across multiple languages, stratified by research question.
- Data extraction included species, model characteristics, surgical techniques, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Animal models are used for studying new surgical techniques (93 articles) and metabolic/functional consequences (66 articles).
- Rats are preferred for metabolic studies, dogs for technical experimentation, but few models are used repeatedly.
- Many studies exhibit questionable validity, repeated investigations of the same question with discrepant outcomes, and lack standardization.
Conclusions:
- The use of animal models in urinary diversion is not standardized, hindering cross-study comparisons.
- Limited applicability of findings to clinical urology due to anatomical and physiological differences.
- Efforts are needed to optimize the use and improve the quality of animal models in experimental urology.
