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Transurethral nervi erigentes stimulation: An experimental study in the dog
Author(s) -
Hashmat A.,
Vega A. Luna
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/nau.1930090510
Subject(s) - medicine , stimulation , glans penis , penis , glans , erectile dysfunction , urology , surgery , anesthesia
An erection obtained during external sphincterotomy on a paraplegic patient prompted this experiment in an animal model. Four dogs were anesthetized and a transurethral electrical current was used to stimulate the cavernosus nerves and obtain a penile erection. The erectile response was assessed by measurement of the girth of the glans before and after stimulation. There was an increase of 2 cm in the girth of the glans and the penis became firm and remained erect while being stimulated. The aim of the experiment was to elucidate another technique to assess the integrity of the nervous pathway for erection. Transurethral stimulation of nervi erigentes may be used also as a tool to investigate erectile dysfunction. The stimulated erection observed in a paraplegic patient after transurethral electrical stimulation confirms previous observations that the erectile mechanism is maintained in paraplegic patients, with an intact thoracolumbar sympathetic outflow.