[Experimental studies in animals on the bladder function following sacral blockade with alkohol (author's transl)]

Caudal anesthesia was achieved with Xylocain-R in 13 dogs and with ethanol (99,2 percent) in 8 dogs. Urinary bladder function was studied before and after block. The results obtained are in agreement with the functional changes after rhizotomy of S1--S3: bladder capacity increases after cuadal block and pressures measured at equal volumes decrease. Urinary overflow was observed; 80 percent of the filling volume, however, remains within the bladder. An autonomous bladder contraction induced by smypathetic nerve activity could not be proven within our observation period of 7 days.