Poster 385: The Management of Patients With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury in Emergency Departments: A Knowledge Survey of Emergency Medicine Residents

Abstract

Disclosures: Z. Chen, None. Objective: To assess the clinical efficacy of electro-acupuncture at sacral nerve root in patients with urinary retention caused by spinal cord injury. Design: Controlled study. Participants: Twenty subjects with urinary retention lasting for more than 2 months after spinal cord injury were equally assigned to the treatment group and control group (nϭ10). Interventions: The control group was treated with conventional catheterization. The treatment group received conventional catheterization and the electro-acupuncture at bilateral sacral nerve root. The stimulation lasted for 30 minutes, once a day, and 5 times per week. The sessions lasted for 1 to 3 months. Six months follow-up. Main Outcome Measures: Voiding diaries, quality of life (QOL) score, and urodynamic examination. Results: 7 patients could micturate on self-determination in treatment group. It was only 2 in control group. In treatment group, the average QOL score declined by 2.2 points (Pϭ.063), the maximum detrusor pressure increased from 9.51Ϯ4.36 cm H 2 O to 31.32Ϯ6.36 cm H 2 O (PϽ.01), and the average residual volume decreased from 300.21Ϯ47.36 mL to 66.63Ϯ27.36 mL (PϽ.01). There were significant differences in urodynamics and QOL scores between the treatment group and control group. Conclusions: Electro-acupuncture at bilateral sacral nerve root serves as an effective, economical, and safe method for patients with urinary retention after spinal cord injury.