title: Effect of spinal cord ischemia on vesicourethral function.
abstract: We studied 9 patients with clinical evidence of spinal cord ischemia or infarction who had altered vesicourethral function. Of the patients 6 had some preservation of bladder and lower extremity sensation, a clinical pattern consistent with the anterior spinal artery syndrome. A total of 3 patients had a clinical picture more consistent with complete transverse myelopathy, since they had no preservation of bladder or lower extremity sensation. Despite sensory levels well above the sacral spinal cord segments, 6 patients had detrusor areflexia (4 with bethanechol supersensitivity and 4 with neuropathic changes in the perineal electromyograph) indicating longitudinal spinal cord involvement. Three patients had detrusor hyperreflexia with vesicosphincter dyssynergia, indicating some preservation of the sacral spinal cord. In 6 patients appreciation of pinprick in the lower extremities was absent or decreased but light touch or position sense was preserved. Bladder sensation was dissociated in 4 of these 6 patients, since they had perception of bladder distention but loss of urge to void. These findings indicate that bladder distention is a sensory modality probably mediated via the posterior spinal cord, while the sense of urgency is probably conveyed by the anterior spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Boston University Medical Center, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Siroky
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nehra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vlachiotis
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Krane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D014521:Urethra / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*