Effects of the Electrical Stimulation for the Neurogenic Bowel of the Spinal Cord Injured Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of the electrical stimulation to the sacral dermatomes for the neurogenic bowel of the spinal cord injured patients. METHOD: Eleven patients with cervical and thoracic cord injury were enrolled, and classified into two groups, control and electrical stimulation (ES) group. The colon transit time before and after electrical stimulation for 4 weeks to the sacral dermatomes were measured on the ES group, and measured at the same time on control group. The rectoanal manometries were performed after studies of colon transit time on the ES group. RESULTS: The colon transit time measured before electrical stimulation were 16.1+/-13.8 hours for the right colon; 20.1+/-23.3 hours for the left colon; 14.7+/-12.3 hours for the rectosigmoid colon; and the total transit time was 51.0+/-23.4 hours. The time of after electrical stimulation was 8.0+/-5.7 hours for the right colon; 12.8+/-2.2 hours for the left colon; 15.4+/-13.8 hours for the rectosigmoid colon; and the total transit time was 36.2+/-12.8 hours. The left colon transit time and total colon transit time before electrical stimulation were significantly improved compared to after electrical stimulation on the ES group (p<0.05). The left colon transit time of the ES group was significantly improved compared with control group (p<0.05). In the rectoanal manometry, the mean resting anal pressure and threshold of rectoanal inhibitory reflex were increased after the electrical stimulation. CONCLUSION: The electrical stimulation to the sacral dermatomes on the spinal cord injured patient could effectively enhance colon transit, especially on the left colon. In addition, muscular activity of the anal sphincter was enhanced.