Electric stimulation for neurogenic bladder sensory dysfunction

English Keywords:Neurogenic bladder  Bladder sensation  Electric stimulation  Efficacy

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To observe the effects of electric stimulation on neurogenic bladder sensation. Methods: 38 cases complained of bladder sensory dysfunction and diagnosed as neurogenic bladder by clinincal and urodynamic method from March 2009 to October 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. In the treatment group, 18 patients(11 males and 7 females ) with a mean age of 31.4 years(23-50 years) received electric stimulation therapy, of them, 10 cases suffered from complete spinal cord injury and 8 cases suffered from incomplete spinal cord injury, the average duration was 7.2 months(range, 1-32 months); while the remaining 20 cases(15 males and 5 females) with a mean age of 28.6 years(21-48 years) receiving no electric stimulation were referred as the control group, of them 13 cases suffered from complete spinal cord injury and 7 cases suffered from incomplete spinal cord injury, the average duration was 6.9 months(range, 1-27 months). Urodynamic test in the treatment group showed bladder sensation disappeared in 10 cases and bladder sensation weakened in 8 cases, while bladder sensation disappeared in 11 cases and bladder sensation weakened in 9 cases in the control group. The age, gender, type of bladder sensation disorders matched in two groups. The treatment group received daily intravesical electric stimulation and percutaneous electric stimulation of bladder. While the control group received only conventional bladder training. Improvement of the bladder sensation between two groups was compared 1 month later. Results: 11 of 18 cases in the treatment group had varied degrees of improvement of bladder sensation while 7 cases remained no change. Before and after treatment, the average first sensation capacity and strong desire capacity in 8 cases with bladder hypoesthesia was 414±46ml, 540±42ml and 255±41ml, 420±82ml respectively, which showed significant difference(P<0.05). Bladder sensation showed no significant change in the control group before and after treatment, the average first sensation capacity and strong desire capacity was 466±37ml, 562±45ml and 421±21ml, 598±47ml respectively, which showed no significant difference before and after treatment(P>0.05). The average first sensation capacity and strong desire capacity improved significantly between the treatment group and the control group(P<0.05). Conclusions: The comprehensive electric stimulation therapy can improve bladder sensory function to some degrees in neurogenic bladder patient.