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Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Surgical Model for Single-Staged Tissue-Engineered Urothelial Tubes in Minipigs
Published on: July 5, 2024
Image-guided study of swine anatomy as a tool for urologic surgery research and training
Jacob Hindrik Antunes Smit1, Eduardo Piotto Leonardi2, Rosa Helena de Figueiredo Chaves3
1Graduate student, School of Medicine, Centro Universitário do Estado do Pará, Belém-PA, Brazil.
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. Each kidney presented a single renal artery vascularization, with a mean diameter on the right of 4.45 and 5.31 mm on the left (p < 0.0001) and single renal vein drainage, with a mean diameter on the right of 5.78 and 5.82 mm on the left (p = 0.0336). The average renal length was 9.85 cm on the right and 10.30 cm on the left (p < 0.0001). The average renal volume was 113.70 cm3 on the right and 109.70 cm3 on the left (p < 0.0001). The average length of the ureter was 19.78 cm on the right and 22.08 cm on the left (p < 0.0001). The average bladder volume was 423.70 cm3.
Conclusions:
The data obtained show similarities with human anatomy, suggesting the viability of the swine model for planning preclinical trials, basic research, refinement in experimental surgery and surgical training for urological procedures.
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Imaging Studies I: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Studies
Imaging Studies II: Ultrasonography
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