The Treatment of Detrusor Incontinence by Electrical Stimulation

Abstract

Cystometrograms were done on 20 patients before and during transrectal stimulation to determine if electrical stimulation increased the detrusor reflex threshold. In 4 patients the detrusor reflex threshold was increased during stimulation and urinary continence was restored. Each patient became incontinent when transrectal stimulation was discontinued for 1 to 5 days. Cyclic periods of stimulation were necessary to maintain the beneficial effects of electrical stimulation and a permanent pelvic floor stimulator was implanted since chronic transrectal stimulation was inconvenient.