Voiding in anesthetized spinal dogs induced by stimulating sacral and coccygeal roots with the "volume conduction" method

In an attempt to avoid nerve injury, a new method of electrical stimulation of the innervations to the bladder has been developed. Stimulation with this method in 39 anesthetized spinal dogs induced a mean increase of 83.3 mmHg in intravesical pressure. Physiological reactions to stress were observed during stimulation with this method in anesthetized dogs but not in the same dogs after spinal transection. With a stimulating procedure designed to overcome the problem of sphincter contraction, the new method was found effective in emptying the bladder in anesthetized spinal dogs. The advantages of using this method are discussed and a comparison with the traditional method of stimulation indicates that this method could be less likely to cause nerve injury.