J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2002 Oct;26(5):526-532.

Effect of Rectal Electrical Stimulation in Patients with Neurogenic Bowel due to Spinal Cord Injury

• Bae HS
• Park CI
• Park ES
• Kim SM
• Shin JC

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to investigate the effect of the rectal electrical stimulation in patients with neurogenic bowel due to SCI. METHOD: Twelve patients with SCI who have the symptoms of neurogenic bowel were recruited as subjects. Before and after electrical stimulation, anorectal angle and anal pressure was measured.
RESULTS
1. There was a reverse correlation between pre- electrical stimulation anorectal angle and colon transit time in rectosigmoid segment (p<0.05). 2. Anal pressure of post-electrical stimulation was significantly decreased compared with that of pre-electrical stimulation (p<0.05). 3. Anorectal angle of post-electrical stimulation was significantly increased compared with that of pre-electrical stimulation (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
This study suggested that rectal electrical stimulation for neurogenic bowel in patients with SCI could be helpful defecation method for bowel emptying.

Keyword

Neurogenic bowel; Spinal cord; Anorectal angle; Anal pressure; Electrical stimulation

MeSH Terms

Colon
Defecation
Electric Stimulation*
Humans
Neurogenic Bowel*
Spinal Cord Injuries*
Spinal Cord*