Actively Recruiting
Stimulation for Bowel Emptying
Led by VA Office of Research and Development · Updated on 2026-04-13
12
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
139 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
V
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor
C
Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation Center
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
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.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Stimulation for Bowel Emptying
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- 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
You will not qualify if you...
- 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
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY
Syracuse, New York, United States, 13210-2716
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
C
Cesar Colasante-Garrido, MD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
1
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