Ureteric Jet Doppler Waveforms in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

The Characteristics of Ureteric Jet Doppler Waveforms and Factors Affecting Them in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

Urinary dysfunction is very common in individuals with spinal cord injury. The urine flowing from the collecting ducts to the renal calyx stretches the calyces. ANS controlled peristaltic contractions originate in the proximal renal pelvis and travel down the ureters, pushing urine from the renal pelvis towards the bladder. The urine bolus delivered from the kidneys through the peristaltic contraction of the ureter creates an image called ureteric jet. Using the Doppler analysis of ureteral jets, previous studies have examined the changes in the ureteric jet pattern in pathological conditions such as the diagnosis of normal ureteral physiology.

This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary rehabilitation center. Eighteen spinal cord injury patients who met the inclusion criteria and 24 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The appearance of üreteric jet form and bladder wall thicknesses were obtained by urinary Doppler ultrasound both in patient and control groups. Detrusor pressure and bladder volume were measured only in patient group during urodynamic assessment.

The case group

Inclusion Criteria:

• With signs of upper motor neuron lesion,
• Suprasacral spinal cord injury,
• Normal urinary ultrasound findings
• Planned urodynamics

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neurological disease other than spinal cord injury
• Urinary tract infection
• Urinary obstruction
• History of urinary tract Stones
• Diabetes, hypertension
• History of urinary surgery,
• Sacral injury
• Second motor neuron lesions (such as cauda equina, or cauda conus)

The control group

Inclusion Criteria:

• Normal urinary ultrasonography

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neurological disease
• Urinary tract infection
• Urinary obstruction
• History of urinary tract Stones
• Diabetes, hypertension