Transcutaneous electrical posterior tibial nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence: effects on symptoms and quality of life

Analysis of the efficacy of biofeedback for faecal incontinence after surgery for anorectal malformation

OBJECTIVE

To explore the therapeutic effects of biofeedback in the treatment of faecal incontinence (FI) after surgery for anorectal malformation (ARM).

METHODS

Clinical data were collected from paediatric patients for postoperative biofeedback due to FI caused by ARM between May 2017 and November 2021. The data included the duration of symptoms, the integrity of the anal sphincter, anorectal manometry parameters, and FI scores. These patients were divided into the low ARM group (group A) and the high ARM group (group B).

RESULTS

A total of 45 paediatric patients were enrolled in the study. There were 28 cases in group A and 17 cases in group B. The differences in age, gender, and body weight were not statistically significant between the two groups (p > 0.05). The differences in the clinical indicators were also not statistically significant between the two groups at the time of the initial evaluation. The duration of symptoms was 2.21 ± 0.71 years and 4.14 ± 1.89 years in groups A and B. There were 16 cases with an intact anal sphincter in group A and only two cases with an intact anal sphincter in group B. This difference was statistically significant between the two groups (p < .05). The anal resting pressure, initial sensitivity threshold, defaecation sensitivity threshold, defaecation urge threshold, and FI scores were significantly improved in both groups post-treatment compared to pre-treatment (p < .001). Strong impulses improved significantly in group A, while strong impulses did not improve significantly in group B. The multivariate logistic regression analysis with these variables further showed that symptom duration and anal sphincter integrity were the main factors influencing the therapeutic effects of biofeedback.

CONCLUSION

Biofeedback plays a positive role in the treatment of FI in paediatric patients following surgery for ARM. Symptom duration and anal sphincter integrity were found to be the main factors influencing the therapeutic effect of biofeedback.

Biofeedback versus bilateral transcutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of functional non-retentive fecal incontinence in children: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Biofeedback and transcutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (TPTNS) can be used in treatment of Functional non-retentive fecal incontinence (FNRFI). Aim of this study was to evaluate the early effect of Biofeedback versus (TPTNS) and treatment by Kegal exercises and dietetic regulations in management of (FNRFI) in children.

METHODOLOGY

The current prospective randomized controlled study included 93 children with FNRFI who were randomly allocated into the 3 groups. Group A (n = 28) were treated by dietetic regulation and Kegal exercises. Group B (n = 34) received biofeedback while group C (n = 31) received (TPTNS) for 3 months. Follow up using St' Mark's incontinence score and high resolution manometry was done at 3 and 6 months and compared to the initial records.

RESULTS

There was statistically significant decrease in the incontinence score in Group B and C compared to Group A at 3 and 6 months (p ˂ 0.001). Resting and squeeze pressures showed significant increase group B and C (p ˂ 0.001). Patients in Group B and C showed significant decrease volume of balloon required for 1st sensation (p ˂ 0.001 and 0.034) respectively.

CONCLUSION

Biofeedback is more effective than TPTNS, Kegal exercises and dietetic regulations in treatment of FNRFI in children for short term follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I.

TYPE OF STUDY

Treatment Study.

Efficacy of Bilateral Transcutaneous Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation for Fecal Incontinence

CONTEXT

Posterior tibial nerve stimulation is a new second-line treatment for refractory fecal incontinence.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of bilateral transcutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (BTPTNS) for treatment of fecal incontinence in Japanese patients and its impact on quality of life.

DESIGN

A prospective observational-interventional study was conducted from May 2015 to June 2017 in patients with fecal incontinence in whom conservative treatment had failed. All patients received a 30-minute session of stimulation twice weekly for 6 consecutive weeks. Evaluation at baseline and at 6 weeks involved the Wexner score, Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) questionnaire, and anal manometry. Patients recorded episodes of incontinence in a weekly diary.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Reduction of 50% or greater in incontinence episodes, decreased Wexner score, and improved FIQL scores.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients with a median age of 64.1 years (range, 26-81 years) and men:women ratio of 9:13 completed BTPTNS. Mean episodes of fecal incontinence were significantly reduced from 4.7 to 1.5 (p < 0.05). An improvement of 50% or better in episodes of fecal incontinence was achieved in 77.2% of patients. The median Wexner score significantly decreased from 10.2 to 6.9 (p < 0.05). The median FIQL score improved from 2.7 to 3.1 (p = 0.06), and significant improvement was seen in the embarrassment domain (2.2 vs 2.8, p < 0.05). Resting and squeezing anal pressures revealed no significant changes.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that BTPTNS is safe and well tolerated and may improve symptoms of fecal incontinence. This technique offers an additional noninvasive, less expensive form of treatment.

A pilot study assessing the efficacy of posterior tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of low anterior resection syndrome

BACKGROUND

Low anterior resection for rectal cancer often results in severe bowel dysfunction, specifically low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), with symptoms such as incontinence, urgency, and frequent bowel movements. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) resulted in a high rate of success in patients with fecal incontinence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with PTNS in LARS and to identify predictors of the outcome of the technique.

METHODS

The study was conducted from May 2012 to April 2015 at the Alvaro Cunqueiro Hospital, University Hospital Complex of Vigo, Spain. Ten patients with LARS were recruited consecutively. All patients underwent 2 sessions per week (30 min each one) for 6 weeks. Patients were followed for 3 weeks, and those who had a significant clinical improvement were recruited to a second phase of PTNS. Some patients presenting with relapse during follow-up underwent an additional phase of PTNS. Outcome measures included Wexner scores, quality of life scores, and urgency of defecation.

RESULTS

Three patients did not complete the treatment due to poor response in the first phase. Incontinence was reduced in the remaining seven of ten patients. The median Wexner score at initial patient evaluation was 14 (IQR 10.75-18.5), which decreased to 10 (IQR 6.5-18) after treatment (p = 0.034). A statistically significant improvement was demonstrated in quality of life scale, lifestyle, depression, and daily defecation urgency (p < 0.05). LARS Score improvement was observed in five patients (50%) with a total resolution of LARS in 2 (20%).

CONCLUSIONS

PTNS is an ambulatory treatment that could play an important role in the context of a multimodal treatment approach in patients with LARS. It could be a first-line treatment to identify non-responders to conservative management who need different and more invasive treatments.

Current status: new technologies for the treatment of patients with fecal incontinence

Fecal incontinence is a frequent and debilitating condition that may result from a multitude of different causes. Treatment is often challenging and needs to be individualized. During the last several years, new technologies have been developed, and others are emerging from clinical trials to commercialization. Although their specific roles in the management of fecal incontinence have not yet been completely defined, surgeons have access to them and patients may request them. The purpose of this project is to put into perspective, for both the patient and the practitioner, the relative positions of new and emerging technologies in order to propose a treatment algorithm.

Posterior tibial nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence: Where are we?

Neurostimulation remains the mainstay of treatment for patients with faecal incontinence who fails to respond to available conservative measures. Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) is the main form of neurostimulation that is in use today. Posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) - both the percutaneous and the transcutaneous routes - remains a relatively new entry in neurostimulation. Though in its infancy, PTNS holds promise to be an effective, patient friendly, safe and cheap treatment. However, presently PTNS only appears to have a minor role with SNS having the limelight in treating patients with faecal incontinence. This seems to have arisen as the strong, uniform and evidence based data on SNS remains to have been unchallenged yet by the weak, disjointed and unsupported evidence for both percutaneous and transcutaneous PTNS. The use of PTNS is slowly gaining acceptance. However, several questions remain unanswered in the delivery of PTNS. These have raised dilemmas which as long as they remain unsolved can considerably weaken the argument that PTNS could offer a viable alternative to SNS. This paper reviews available information on PTNS and focuses on these dilemmas in the light of existing evidence.

Transcutaneous electrical posterior tibial nerve stimulation for chronic anal fissure: a preliminary study

PURPOSE

Recent studies showed that sacral nerve stimulation might be an effective treatment option for chronic anal fissure. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as a noninvasive alternative treatment for chronic anal fissure by stimulating the sacral nerve in the ankle via the posterior tibial nerve.

METHOD

In this prospective study, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was applied for 10 days in addition to conventional medical treatment in ten patients. Wexner's constipation score, visual analog scale for pain, quality of life (Short Form-36), Hamilton anxiety and depression scores, symptom relief, compliance, fissure healing, and side effects were evaluated before and after treatment (days 0, 5, and 10).

RESULTS

Ten patients (eight females/two males) with a mean age of 50.7 ± 18.5 years were enrolled in the study. Pain and bleeding resolved in all patients 2 days after the treatment, and mucosal healing was observed in six patients 10 days after the treatment. Wexner's constipation and visual analog scale scores for pain decreased significantly (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Hamilton anxiety and depression scores decreased as well (p = 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively). Among Short Form-36 subscales, only mental health score increased significantly (p = 0.003). One patient underwent surgery at follow-up due to recurrence of symptoms, and rubber band ligation was applied to another patient who had internal hemorrhoidal rectal bleeding at the end of 10 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation application to the posterior tibial nerve has the potential to be an alternative treatment option for chronic anal fissure patients who seek noninvasive treatment modality.

Future indications for sacral nerve stimulation

AIM

The aim of this article was to determine the effect of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) on the treatment of faecal incontinence, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, mixed urinary and bowel disorders, spinal injury and neurodegenerative disease, pain syndromes, and sexual dysfunction.

METHOD

A Medline search was performed including the keywords and/or MeSH headings of 'sacral nerve stimulation', 'neuromodulation', 'artificial pacemaker', 'faecal incontinence', 'constipation' and 'anal pain'. Further studies were identified by cross-referencing from relevant articles and by appraisal of recent peer-reviewed conference abstracts and proceedings.

RESULTS

SNS has been used for the treatment of urinary, bowel and sexual dysfunction, as well as pain resulting from such disorders, and dysfunction arising from nerve injury and degenerative disease. There is a paucity of high quality evidence to support the use of SNS for the majority of novel indications at present.

CONCLUSION

Good quality prospective, cross-over studies are required to determine the true benefits of SNS. Further research into patient selection, operative technique and stimulation parameters for existing indications will ensure a place for SNS in the future treatment algorithm of functional pelvic floor disorders.