Clinical application of electronic bladder stimulation in paraplegics

Ten patients have received bladder stimulators in a clinical trial to reduce urologic complications of neuropathic bladders. Preoperative evaluation and surgical techniques are discussed. Several patients void with the stimulator, and maintain low residual urine and a reduced incidence of infection. Two patients are total failures and 1 is in the early postoperative period. The physiological mechanisms involved are discussed. Additional investigation is needed for a means to deliver the stimulus to a more precise localization. Further clinical trials are warranted.