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Inhibiting the hyperreflexic bladder with electrical stimulation in a spinal animal model
Author(s) -
Walter James S.,
Wheeler John S.,
Robinson Charles J.,
Wurster Robert D.
Publication year - 1993
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.1930120306
Subject(s) - medicine , stimulation , animal study , animal model , functional electrical stimulation , overactive bladder , urology , surgery , pathology , alternative medicine
Abstract Uninhibited bladder contractions are a problem in spinal cord injured patients. Accordingly, methods using electrical stimulation to inhibit the bladder were investigated in chronic spinal cord injured (C6‐T1) male cats. In unanesthetized, restrained animals, spontaneous bladder contractions were observed after the bladder was filled above the micturition threshold. In 3 of the 5 cats studied, this bladder activity could be inhibited with stimulation of either sacral nerves or pudendal nerves. Pudendal nerve stimulation, however, was more selective than sacral nerve stimulation for inhibition with fewer side effects such as leg spasms. Tibial nerve stimulation was ineffective and caused leg spasms and increased bladder activity. Finally, high‐frequency stimulation (1,000 Hz) of the sacral nerves was shown to block bladder contractions in 2 of 3 cats investigated. However, this method had adverse side effects such as leg flexion and secondary bladder contractions. We conclude that pudendal nerve/pelvic floor stimulation at low frequency is a relatively effective method in this model.