An Improved Urethral Catheterization in Female Pigs: A Pilot Study

With the popularity of urine flow dynamic monitoring and indwelling catheter technologies in animal experiments, the urethral catheterization has become a common technique in scientific research. The miniature pig is considered as one of the major animal species used in scientific research and is increasingly being used as an alternative to a dog or monkey as the nonrodent species of choice in the preclinical toxicological testing of pharmaceuticals.[1] Since there are three acute angles bending in the urethra of the male miniature pig, and the end of the penis head is cork-screw shaped, it is difficult to implement routine urethral catheterization in male miniature pigs. Currently, researchers usually implement bladder colostomies or dissections in male miniature pigs, while transurethral urethral catheterization can be implemented in female miniature pigs. According to the existing reports, implementing transurethral urethral catheterization in female miniature pigs is seldom seen.[2] We chose 3‐month‐old female Bama miniature pigs in our experiments and employ the following methods: first, use a “V”-shaped platform with an angle of about 30° to the horizontal plane; second, utilize a pediatric laryngoscope for deep lighting; third, bend the lower limbs and press down to the ventral side. Satisfactory results through transurethral urethral catheterization were achieved in the end.