INTRAVESICAL ATROPINE AND SUPPRESSION OF DETRUSOR HYPERCONTRACTILITY IN THE NEUROPATHIC BLADDER - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Twelve patients with detrusor hypercontractility secondary to spinal c ord lesions were treated with intravesical atropine sulphate. Five pat ients expelled the solution almost immediately. In the seven patients who retained the solution the cystometric capacity increased by a mean of 301 ml (P < 0.01). The volume at which an unstable contraction occ urred increased by a mean of 190 ml (P < 0.05) and the volume at which a urinary leak occurred increased by a mean of 297 ml (P < 0.05). The maximum hyperreflexic detrusor contraction pressure was reduced by a mean of 24 cm water (P < 0.05). No significant reduction in end fill p ressure or compliance was observed though the increase in compliance a pproached significance. No side effects were observed and no differenc es were observed in pupillary reactions, blood pressure or pulse after the instillation of atropine.