Electrical stimulation for the hypocontractile bladder

Abstract

The incidence of detrusor underactivity is projected to rise owing to an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of diabetes, but therapeutic options remain limited. Successful bladder contractions have been yielded in studies of bladder pacing in animals. However, anatomical incongruities highlight the need for human trials. Bladder pacing in humans through electrical stimulation has shown some potential, although sustainable protocols are lacking owing to detrusor–sphincter dyssynergia and patient discomfort during trials. Thus, manometric studies in brain-dead patients might serve as a model for developing an implantable bladder pacing device to restore contractility.