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Stimulation for Bowel Emptying

Electrical Rectal Stimulation to Promote Bowel Emptying After Spinal Cord Injury

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Suprasacral spinal cord injury
* Diagnosed neurogenic bowel dysfunction and using digital rectal stimulation
* Bowel routine requires at least 30 minutes or at least 3 cycles of digital rectal stimulation
* Neurologically stable
* At least 18 years old
* At least 12 months post neurological injury or disease diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active sepsis
* Open pressure sores on or around pelvis
* Significant colon trauma or colostomy
* Crohn's disease
* Colonic obstruction or gastrointestinal surgery within last 3 months
* Significant history of autonomic dysreflexia

About the study

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.

What is being tested

• Electrical Rectal Stimulation (other)

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development · Participants: 12 · Started: May 1, 2024

Contact the study team

• Cesar Colasante-Garrido, MD · Phone: (315) 325-4400

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06078176

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.