Two Devices for Reflex Voiding Following Spinal Cord Injury

Launched by US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS · Apr 14, 2008

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Catheters are often used by individuals emptying their bladder following spinal cord injury. Reflex voiding is one of the bladder emptying methods, and it relies on spontaneous bladder contractions for voiding. These contractions occur with normal bladder filling or can be induced with suprapubic tapping and hair pulling. Poor voiding responses with reflex voiding can occur because of unwanted contractions of the urethra during bladder contractions and/or unsustained bladder contractions that result in high residual urine. The focus of this investigation is methods to reduce the high urethr...

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Male Veterans using Hines VA Hospital SCI Service that have upper motor neuron injuries
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Can voluntarily control their urination
• • Surgically removed external urethral sphincter in men or replaced bladder
• • Any implanted devices in the lower urinary tract
• • Female
• • Urinary tract infection in the prior 3 months or untreated urinary tract infection, or bladder pathology such as a tumor or stones
• • History of autonomic dysreflexia
• • Anal inflammation or pathology
• • Use of Indwelling (Foley) catheter as the primary method of bladder management; note patients will be included if they only occasionally use a Foley catheters; for example, during traveling
• • Not under 18 or over 70 years old and in good health
• • Less than 3-months after injury and before the return of bladder reflexes
• • Lower motor neuron spinal cord injury
• • Not competent to understand the study and the consent and willing to participate in study.