To Explore the Diagnostic Value of Bulbocavernosus Muscle Reflex and Pudendal Somatosensory Evoked Potentials for Diabetic Neurogenic Bladder

Abstract

Objective. To explore the diagnostic value of bulbocavernosus muscle reflex and pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials for diabetic neurogenic bladder. Methods. From January 2021 to December 2021, 104 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus admitted to the hospital were recruited, with 57 allocated to the case group and 47 to the control group. Outcome measures included bulbocavernosus muscle response, pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials, and bladder residual urine volume. The connection of bulbocavernosus muscle response and pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials with bladder residual urine volume was investigated using the Pearson analysis. Results. In both males and females, the latency of the left and right bulbocavernosus muscle reflexes in the case group was longer than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( $P>0.05$ ), and the wave amplitude of the left and right bulbocavernosus muscle reflexes was significantly smaller than that of the control group ( $P<0.05$ ). The diabetic neurogenic bladder was associated with a significantly longer latency and a smaller wave amplitude of pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials versus without neurogenic bladder ( $P<0.05$ ). Patients with a diabetic neurogenic bladder had more residual bladder urine volume versus those without ( $P<0.05$ ). Bladder residual urine volume was significantly positively correlated with bulbocavernosus muscle reflex and pudendal somatosensory evoked potential latency and negatively correlated with wave amplitude ( $P<0.05$ ). Conclusion. The bulbocavernosus muscle reflex and pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials demonstrate great potential as adjuncts to diagnose diabetic neurogenic bladder and correlate with ultrasound results in determining bladder function in patients.