Electrical Stimulation of the Urethra Evokes Bladder Contractions in a Woman With Spinal Cord Injury

This case study explores whether electrical stimulation of the urethra can cause bladder contractions in women with spinal cord injuries (SCI). This is important because SCI can lead to bladder dysfunction, and current treatments may not be ideal for everyone, especially women. Researchers used a special catheter with electrodes to stimulate different parts of the urethra while monitoring bladder pressure. They found that electrical stimulation could indeed trigger bladder contractions, but only when the bladder was already partially full. This finding suggests that there is a spinal reflex pathway connecting the urethra and bladder in women with SCI, and stimulating this pathway could potentially help them empty their bladders more effectively. This could lead to new treatments that improve their quality of life and reduce reliance on catheters.

• 1
  Electrical stimulation of the urethra in a woman with SCI evoked bladder contractions.
• 2
  Bladder contractions were dependent on bladder volume; a minimum volume of approximately 70% of the threshold volume was required.
• 3
  The minimum current amplitude observed to evoke a bladder contraction was 15 mA.