J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2002 Jun;26(3):292-298.

The Effect of Sympathetic Nervous System and Oxybutynin to Colon Transit Time in Spinal Cord Injured Patients

• Shin JC
• Park CI
• Kim JE
• Lee BH
• Na DW

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study is to determine the influence of the imbalance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous input to colon transit control in spinal cord injured patients and the effect of the anticholinergic medication forneurogenic bladder on colon transit time. METHOD: Eighty-six patients with cervical and thoracic cord injury were enrolled. The colon transit time (CTT) accord ing to the severity and lesion of injury and also the administration routes of oxybutynin were compared by indepen dent t-test.
RESULTS
Total CTT was 56.7 hours, with right CTT 16.9 hours, left CTT 21.3 hours and rectosigmoid CTT 18.5 hours. The rectosigmoid CTT of the patients with the lesion at T6 or below were prolonged than that of the patients with the lesion above T6 (p<0.05). According to administration route of oxybutynin, instillation group showed more shortened rectosigmoid CTT than oral route group (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The imbalance between parasympathetic and sympathetic outflow from the spinal cord has play an im portant role in colon transit control of spinal cord injured patients. The management of neurogenic bowel and bladder considering colon transit time is needed for the effective management of spinal cord injured patients.

Keyword

Spinal cord injury; Autonomic nervous system; Neurogenic bladder; Colon transit time; Oxybutynin

MeSH Terms

Autonomic Nervous System
Colon*
Humans
Neurogenic Bowel
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal Cord*
Sympathetic Nervous System*
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic