3.3 TOT increases the loop-enclosed area
To investigate the potential impact of TOT on the thermodynamic efficacy of bladder voiding, we compared and contrasted the area enclosed by the trajectory in the PVA (Apv) measured pre- and post-operatively for it represents the work performed by the bladder in a voiding cycle.18
Derived from the pressure-flow data measured before (Figure 3A PRE) and after (Figure 3B POST) a TOT operation, the illustrative loops in the PVA demonstrated while TOT failed to markedly shift the left, the lower, or the right boundary, it obviously elevated the upper border of the loop post-operatively that resulted in an increased Apv compared to the pre-operative control (Figure 3C and D). Inspecting individual Apv change in each patient revealed TOT increased Apv in most patients (20 out of 26, 77%; Figure 3E); and the TOT-associated Apv increment was confirmed by the summarized data showing the mean value of Apv was significantly increased after operation compared to the pre-operative control (Figure 3F).