This chapter describes the different surgical procedures for managing a neurogenic bladder. The procedures include electrical stimulation, bladder and urethral reconstructive surgery, bladder outlet obstruction management and the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Electrical stimulation to manage bladder dysfunction in patients with neurological disorders has been used since 1950. Electrical stimulation therapies include intravesical electrostimulation, sacral neuromodulation and sacral anterior root stimulation with selective sacral rhizotomy. Cutaneous continent diversions may be performed in neurological patients, mainly in the young myelomeningocele patient or those with spinal cord injury (SCI) who cannot perform clean intermittent self-catheterization (CISC) via the urethra because of congenital abnormalities, urethral pain, obesity, strictures or poor hand mobility. Finally, the chapter describes the suprapubic catheter (SPC), and sphincter surgery, which relieves bladder outlet obstruction due to external urethral sphincter contraction.

Neurogenic bladder dysfunction has many different pathogeneses and one drug or therapeutic mechanism would be unlikely to be effective for all causes. The human prostate and the bladder neck contain a dense population of a1AR and stimulation of those receptors results in increased smooth muscle tone and increased closure of the urethra. In-vitro studies have shown that non-selective β-adrenoreceptor (βAR) agonists like isoprenaline have a pronounced inhibitory effect on the human bladder, causing increases in bladder capacity. Studies have found that symptoms of sensory urgency are associated with increased TRPV1 expression in the trigonal mucosa. An orally active TRPV1 antagonist has shown the ability to completely prevent bladder reflex overactivity triggered by capsaicin infusion. The TRPV4 cation channel has been found to mediate stretch-evoked Ca2+ influx and ATP release in primary urothelial cell cultures, suggesting this is a sensor molecule in detecting bladder distension.

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) can result from a wide range of neurological conditions. This chapter provides the clinician with an approach to neurogenic bladder dysfunction based on the history, physical examination and investigations, in order to optimize patient management and follow-up. Classification helps with understanding the functional disturbances occurring in neurogenic LUTD. Understanding the underlying dysfunction is paramount before starting treatment. History-taking should address potential dysfunction in both the storage and voiding phases of micturition. Several symptom scales have been validated for the evaluation of urinary disorders, but none are specific for neurogenic LUTD. Physical examination should include neurological, urological, gynecological, abdominal and rectal examination. History, bladder diary and clinical examination may not always be sufficient for understanding the nature of LUTD. Urodynamic tests involve functional and dynamic assessment of the lower urinary tract and are used to assess detrusor and bladder outlet function.