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Electrical Rectal Stimulation for Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction

This study is testing a new way to help people with neurogenic bowel dysfunction (problems with bowel movements due to nerve damage, often from spinal cord injury). Many people with this condition have slow bowel movements and difficulty emptying their bowels. Currently, some people use digital rectal stimulation (gently stretching the rectum with a gloved finger) to help. This study is exploring if Electrical Rectal Stimulation, which uses gentle electrical pulses, can have a similar helpful effect on bowel emptying. Researchers will compare how long it takes to empty your bowels after 12 weeks of using this new method. You may be able to join if you are at least 18 years old, have a spinal cord injury, and currently use digital rectal stimulation for bowel emptying that takes at least 30 minutes or 3 cycles.

Study design
This study is testing a new intervention in a small group of 12 participants. It will compare Electrical Rectal Stimulation to participants' usual mechanical intervention.
What's involved
The main measurement for this study is how long it takes to complete bowel emptying, which will be checked at 12 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary outcome of the study, time required to complete bowel emptying, is measured at 12 weeks.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06078176

Stimulation for Bowel Emptying

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~12 participants
Updated 2026-04-13 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Electrical Rectal Stimulation

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Time required to complete bowel emptying
Measured over 12 weeks

Conditions

Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction

Explore related trials

Neurogenic bladder dysfunction

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
New York1

Study leadership

  • Cesar Colasante-Garrido, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY
  • Dennis Bourbeau, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

Who to contact

Cesar Colasante-Garrido, MD
[email protected]
(315) 325-4400
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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

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

What this trial measures

  • Time required to complete bowel emptying12 weeks

    Two interventions will be tested, including the clinical standard of digital rectal stimulation and a novel approach using electrical stimulation of rectal sensory afferents, to determine the effect on colonic pressure. We will compare the time required for the participant to complete their bowel emptying routine between a control period with digital rectal stimulation and a treatment period with electrical rectal stimulation.