Stimulation for Colonic Motility
| Status: | Enrolling by invitation |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Gastrointestinal |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Gastroenterology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 2/22/2019 |
| Start Date: | January 1, 2019 |
| End Date: | December 31, 2019 |
Afferent Stimulation to Evoke Recto-colonic Reflex for Colonic Motility
The investigators are testing the effect of electrical stimulation of the rectum on colonic
motility. Most individuals with spinal cord injury develop neurogenic bowel dysfunction,
which includes slowed colonic motility, which means that stools take longer than normal to
pass through the colon. This slowed movement may result in chronic constipation and
difficulty emptying the bowels. Individuals typically (without or without caregiver
assistance) insert a gloved finger into the rectum and gently stretch it to improve colonic
motility for a brief period to empty the bowels. The investigators hypothesize that
electrically stimulating the rectum, instead of mechanically stretching it, will produce the
same beneficial effect of improving colonic motility. Therefore, this study will compare the
two methods. If electrical stimulation effectively improves colonic motility, then the
investigator shall develop the approach as a therapeutic intervention in future studies.
motility. Most individuals with spinal cord injury develop neurogenic bowel dysfunction,
which includes slowed colonic motility, which means that stools take longer than normal to
pass through the colon. This slowed movement may result in chronic constipation and
difficulty emptying the bowels. Individuals typically (without or without caregiver
assistance) insert a gloved finger into the rectum and gently stretch it to improve colonic
motility for a brief period to empty the bowels. The investigators hypothesize that
electrically stimulating the rectum, instead of mechanically stretching it, will produce the
same beneficial effect of improving colonic motility. Therefore, this study will compare the
two methods. If electrical stimulation effectively improves colonic motility, then the
investigator shall develop the approach as a therapeutic intervention in future studies.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosed neurogenic bowel dysfunction and using digital rectal stimulation
- Neurologically stable
- Skeletally mature
- Suprasacral spinal cord injury, stroke, or multiple sclerosis
- At least 6 months post neurological injury or disease diagnosis
Exclusion Criteria:
- Active sepsis
- Open pressure sores on or around pelvis
- Significant colon trauma or colostomy
- History of autonomic dysreflexia
We found this trial at
1
site
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Principal Investigator: Dennis Bourbeau, PhD
Phone: 216-791-3800
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