Urodynamic responses to anal stretch in patients with detrusor sphincter dyssynergia

Objective: To evaluate the urodynamic responses to anal stretch in patients with detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD). Design: Descriptive study. Setting Rehabilitation hospital affiliated with a medical university. Participants: Patients (N=36) with suprasacral spinal cord injury who had DSD confirmed on cystometrography Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Detrusor pressure, urethral pressure, and summated electromyogram of external urethral sphincter on cystometrography. Results: The urodynamic responses to anal stretch were evaluated in the first half (time 1, 1-15s) and the second half (time 2, 16-30s) of the evaluation time period. The activity of external urethral sphincter was reduced significantly in both times I and 2 (P<0.5.). The medians of reduction percentages were 33% and 35% for times I and 2, respectively. The change of detrusor pressure was not significant in either time I or time 2. Conclusions: Anal stretch can reduce the activity of external urethral sphincter without significant change in detrusor pressure.