Verapamil Inhibits the Pelvic Pressure Increase Corresponding to Flow Perfusion in the Porcine Percutaneous Renal Puncture Model

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate the effects of verapamil on pelvic pressure and investigate the possible systemic side effects in the porcine model during the procedure of increasing perfusion rates. Materials and Methods: In the experimental group, the pelvic pressure was recorded with increasing perfusion rates of the renal pelvis (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14 and 20 ml/min) in response to intraluminal administration of increasing concentrations of verapamil (0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 µg/ml) in isotonic saline. In the isotonic saline group, the pressure flow study was also done by increasing perfusion rates of the renal pelvis per animal using isotonic saline without verapamil. Results: Perfusion with 1, 10 and 100 µg/ml verapamil caused a decrease in pelvic pressure as a response to increasing flow rates, whereas perfusion with 0.1 µg/ml verapamil did not obviously inhibit the increase of pelvic pressure at all perfusion rates compared with other concentrations. Importantly, the mean systolic blood pressure and mean heart rate were stable despite the increase of flow rates and verapamil concentrations. In the isotonic saline group, perfusion with isotonic saline resulted in an increase in the pelvic pressure with an increase in flow rates each time. Conclusions: Endoluminal administration of verapamil reduces pelvic pressure significantly without any untoward systemic cardiovascular side effects.