Bladder voiding by combined high frequency electrical pudendal nerve block and sacral root stimulation

Uncoordinated contraction of the external urethral sphincter is prevalent in individuals with spinal cord injury and can prevent bladder voiding. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that complete and reversible sinusoidal high frequency alternating current (HFAC) conduction block of the pudendal nerves (PN) can eliminate external urethral sphincter activation and produce low residual bladder voiding.

In four cats, tripolar nerve cuff electrodes were implanted bilaterally on both pudendal nerves and on both extradural S2 roots. Bladder and urethral pressures, bladder volumes and flow were recorded. Bilateral HFAC was applied to determine voltage and frequency parameters resulting in bilateral PN conduction block. Sacral root stimulation provided bladder activation. Randomized sets of voiding trials were conducted with and without HFAC PN block. Additional voiding trials were conducted following bilateral PN neurotomy to eliminate somatic sphincter resistance and provide an estimate of voiding with complete block.

Effective bilateral PN block and voiding was obtained in three of four animals. Application of bilateral PN HFAC stimulation improved voiding from 2 +/- 4% to 77 +/- 18% of the initial bladder volume and significantly (P < 0.001) reduced maximum bladder pressure during voiding. Voiding in trials with PN block was not significantly different from voiding following PN neurotomy (82 +/- 19%, P = 0.51).

These results demonstrate that bilateral HFAC block of the PN can produce effective voiding. Neural prostheses using this approach may provide an alternative method for producing micturition for people with spinal cord injury.