Stereotactic electrical stimulation of the pontine micturition centre in the pig.

Objective: To apply stereotactic electrical stimulation of the pig brainstem and thus identify a pontine micturition centre.

Materials And Methods: In 10 anaesthetized female Vietnamese minipigs a needle-electrode was positioned in the pontine region. Pressure responses in the lower urinary tract identified the micturition centre functionally during electrical stimulation.

Electrostimulation: a future treatment option for patients with neurogenic urodynamic disorders?

This paper provides an overview of electrical stimulation of the nervous system as a treatment option for urodynamic dysfunction and of some of the recent results in this field. The set-up used in our studies for improved bladder filling in spinal cord injured patients by conditional stimulation of the dorsal penile/clitoral nerve is a highly efficient way to limit neurogenic detrusor overactivity and increase bladder capacity. Ongoing studies suggest that recording of bladder nerve activity is stable over time and may be a technique for chronic monitoring of bladder activity.