Neurostimulation Therapy for Non-neurogenic Overactive Bladder in Children: A Meta-analysis

Updates of Overactive Bladder in Pediatrics

Overactive bladder (OAB) is clinically defined as urinary urgency with or without urinary incontinence. It is associated with daytime frequency or constipation and has a prevalence of approximately 5%-12% among 5- to 10-year-olds. The appropriate functional exchange between the pontine micturition center, periaqueductal gray matter, and prefrontal cortex is important for proper micturition control. Several studies on pediatric cases observed a link between OAB and neuropsychiatric problems, such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficit, and treatment of these comorbidities improved patient symptoms. In this review, we present the pathophysiology of OAB, its associated conditions, and aspects related to updates in OAB treatment, and we propose a step-by-step treatment approach following this sequence: behavioral therapy, medical treatment, and invasive treatment. Although anticholinergic drugs are the mainstay of OAB medical treatment, beta-3 agonists and alpha-blockers are now recommended as a result of significant advancements in pharmacologic treatment in the last 10 years. Electrical stimulation techniques and botulinum toxin are also effective and can be used, especially in conventional treatment-refractory cases.

Efficacy of non‐pharmacological interventions in females with overactive bladder: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To compare and rank the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for symptoms of Overactive Bladder (OAB) in network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Overactive Bladder affects many patients, which often generates bothersome symptoms and debilitates the quality of life. Non-pharmacological therapies have been widely used in OAB. However, due to insufficient evidence, it remains unclear which strategies are most suitable for OAB.

METHODS

We integrated randomised controlled trials (RCTs), which were searched up to 1 January 2021, from 8 databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biology Medicine disc). Studies that met the eligible criteria were assessed the risk of bias. Then, network meta-analyses were conducted by STATA, R, and OpenBUGS. The review followed PRISMA statement.

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies comprising 2347 patients with OAB were included in this review, most of which were low to moderate risk of bias. The results of network meta-analysis implied that electric stimulation (ES) was the most effective intervention to reduce voided frequency and nocturia frequency of OAB.

CONCLUSIONS

Electric stimulation ranked the best in the management of OAB, and future studies should pay more attention to ES.

The effectiveness of different electrical nerve stimulation protocols for treating adults with non-neurogenic overactive bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Electrical nerve stimulation is a widely used treatment for overactive bladder but there is no consensus regarding the best placement of electrodes or protocols. We hypothesised that some non-implanted neurostimulation protocols would be more effective compared to others for treating urinary symptoms and improving quality of life among adults diagnosed with non-neurogenic overactive bladder.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials were performed in five electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Lilacs, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PEDro. The main outcome was urinary symptoms-frequency, nocturia, and urgency-and the secondary outcome quality of life. Some protocol characteristics were extracted, e.g., frequency, pulse width, intensity, intervention time, and electrode placement.

RESULTS

Nine randomized controlled trials were included. Tibial neurostimulation showed better results than sacral neurostimulation for urge incontinence (mean difference = 1.25 episodes, 95% CI, 0.12-2.38, n = 73). On the pooled analysis, the different neurostimulation protocols-intravaginal, percutaneous tibial, and transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation-demonstrated similar results for urinary frequency, nocturia, and urgency as well as quality of life. In general, effect sizes from meta-analyses were low to moderate. The best reported parameters for percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation were 20-Hz frequency and 200-μs width, once a week.

CONCLUSIONS

There was evidence that tibial neurostimulation is more effective than sacral neurostimulation for urge incontinence symptoms among patients with non-neurogenic overactive bladder. Overall, there was no superiority of an electrical nerve stimulation electrode placement and protocol over others considering urinary symptoms and quality of life. Further studies with three-arm trials are necessary. This study was registered at PROSPERO: CRD4201810071.

Efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions in patients with overactive bladder: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background

Some meta‐analyses have proved the superiority of non‐pharmacological interventions in overactive bladder (OAB), but the best choice is still controversial.

Aim

To assess the most effective interventions in female with OAB.

Methods

Studies for relevant randomized controlled trials which compare different kinds of non‐pharmacological interventions in females with OAB will be retrieved from 8 databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database and China Biology Medicine disc, from inception to 1 January 2021. After screening titles and abstracts, detailed data including participates, interventions and outcomes will be extracted according to the eligible criteria. Then, Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool will be used to assess the quality of the literature. The pairwise meta‐analysis will be conducted by STATA. Network meta‐analysis will be performed to compare and rank the effects of different non‐pharmacological interventions, in terms of alleviation of symptoms, by OpenBUGS, R and STATA.

Results

This network meta‐analysis will present the best available evidence about non‐pharmacological interventions for OAB to both relieve symptoms and improve life quality.

Electric nerve stimulation for overactive bladder: an umbrella review

Numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have reported the effect of electrical nerve stimulation (ENS) on overactive bladder (OAB). However, these results are contradictory. We conducted an umbrella review to summarize the evidence and evaluate the effectiveness of ENS for OAB by using an umbrella review methodology from multiple perspectives with sufficient methodological quality. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases and two Chinese databases (CNKI and CBM) to identify articles written in English or Chinese that were published up to 15 February 2021. Two authors of this review independently selected the studies, assessed their quality, and extracted the data from all the included studies. We performed a quality assessment of eligible reviews using the AMSTAR 2.0 tool and estimated the summary effect size, 95% confidence intervals, 95% prediction intervals and heterogeneity. Ten systematic reviews and meta-analyses covering 89 randomized controlled trials and 16 prospective cohort studies with a total population of 5004 participants that investigated the effect of ENS for OAB in terms of 17 different outcomes were identified. ENS seems effective and safety for OAB, with our results showing weak evidence of clinical efficacy and no evidence of side effects. To recommend ENS as a practical treatment option for OAB, however, more high-quality research is needed.

Clinical efficacy of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) versus sham therapy (part I) and TTNS versus percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) (part II) on the short term in children with the idiopathic overactive bladder syndrome: protocol for part I of the twofold double-blinded randomized controlled TaPaS trial

Background

Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) are effective and safe therapies for overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome in adults. However, few randomized sham-controlled trials have been conducted in a pediatric population. To our knowledge, both therapies never have been compared in children.

Aim

The aim of the complete study is twofold: (1) to assess the efficacy of TTNS therapy on bladder symptoms after 12 weeks of treatment in a pediatric population with idiopathic overactive bladder syndrome (iOAB) and/or nocturnal enuresis (part I) and (2) to assess the effect of TTNS compared to PTNS (part II). In this article, we aim to present the protocol of the first part of the TaPaS trial (TTNS, PTNS, sham therapy).

Methods

Part I of the TaPaS trial is set up as a single-center randomized-controlled trial. Children, aged from 5 to 12 years with iOAB and/or nocturnal enuresis, are assigned to two groups by computer-generated randomization: TTNS therapy (intervention) and sham therapy (control). The primary outcome is the percentage difference in average voided volume (AVV) between baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints are the percentage difference in supervoid volumes, number of urinary incontinence episodes/24 h and in voiding frequency, the difference in parent reported outcomes between baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment, and the duration of clinical response.

Discussion

We hypothesize that TTNS is a non-inferior treatment for iOAB in children compared to PTNS therapy. Since literature is inconclusive about the efficacy of TTNS in a pediatric population, a sham-controlled RCT on TTNS will be conducted (part I). A protocol for a prospective randomized sham-controlled trial has been developed. Enrolment has started in November 2018. Study completion of part I is expected by August 2021.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 04256876. Retrospectively registered on February 5, 2020.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-021-05117-8.

Dysfunctional voiding: update on evaluation and treatment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review will be covering dysfunctional voiding, its diagnosis, and treatment options. This will focus primarily on dysfunctional voiding rather than all lower urinary tract dysfunction and we will focus on some of the newer findings and progress within this disease.

RECENT FINDINGS

Dysfunctional voiding is the inappropriate sphincter and pelvic floor constriction during voiding in an otherwise neurologically normal child. This has a wide spectrum of symptoms and can lead to a number of complications such as chronic kidney disease and poor quality of life if not appropriately addressed. Dysfunctional voiding is diagnosed with a careful examination and history with further imaging including a renal ultrasound and uroflowmetry to confirm the diagnosis. Urotherapy and biofeedback are the first and second-line treatments respectively and lead to significant improvement or cure in the majority of patients. For refractory patients, additional therapy options include use of α-blockers, botulinum injection, and electroneurostimulation, though the majority of the literature surrounding the use of these therapies consists of small studies with heterogenous causes of voiding dysfunction.

SUMMARY

Dysfunctional voiding is a common urologic complaint that has many excellent options for improving the patient's voiding issues and should be considered in patients with voiding dysfunction.

EAU-ESPU guidelines recommendations for daytime lower urinary tract conditions in children

The objective is to review the literature related to lower urinary tract (LUT) conditions in children to conceptualize general practice guidelines for the general practitioner, pediatrician, pediatric urologist, and urologist. PubMed was searched for the last 15-year literature by the committee. All articles in peer-review journal-related LUT conditions (343) have been retrieved and 76 have been reviewed extensively. Prospective trials were few and the level of evidence was low. Most of the recommendations have been done by committee consensus after extensive discussion of literature reports. History taking is an integral part of evaluation assessing day- and nighttime urine and bowel control, urgency, and frequency symptoms. Exclusion of any neurogenic and organic cause is essential. Uroflowmetry and residual urine determination are recommended in all patients to evaluate bladder emptying. Urodynamic studies are reserved for refractory or complicated cases. Urotherapy that aims to educate the child and family about bladder and bowel function and guides them to achieve normal voiding and bowel habits should initially be employed in all cases except those who have urinary tract infections (UTI) and constipation. Specific medical treatment is added in the case of refractory overactive bladder symptoms and recurrent UTIs.Conclusion: Producing recommendations for managing LUTS in children based on high-quality studies is not possible. LUTS in children should be evaluated in a multimodal way by minimal invasive diagnostic procedures. Urotherapy is the mainstay of treatment and specific medical treatment is added in refractory cases.What is Known:• Symptoms of the lower urinary tract may have significant social consequences and sometimes clinical morbidities like urinary tract infections and vesicoureteral reflux. In many children, however, there is no such obvious cause for the incontinence, and they are referred to as having functional bladder problems.What is New:• This review aims to construct a practical recommendation strategy for the general practitioner, pediatrician, pediatric urologist, and urologist for LUTS in children. Producing recommendations for managing LUTS in children based on high-quality studies is not possible. LUTS in children should be evaluated in a multimodal way by minimal invasive diagnostic procedures. Urotherapy is the mainstay of treatment and specific medical treatment is added in refractory cases.

Conservative interventions for treating functional daytime urinary incontinence in children

BACKGROUND

In children, functional daytime urinary incontinence is the term used to describe any leakage of urine while awake that is not the result of a known underlying neurological or congenital anatomic cause (such as conditions or injuries that affect the nerves that control the bladder or problems with the way the urinary system is formed). It can result in practical difficulties for both the child and their family and can have detrimental effects on a child's well-being, education and social engagement.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of conservative interventions for treating functional daytime urinary incontinence in children.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Specialised Register, which contains studies identified from CENTRAL, MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, MEDLINE Epub Ahead of Print, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP and handsearching of journals and conference proceedings (searched 11 September 2018). We also searched Chinese language bibliographic databases: Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang. No language restrictions were imposed.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-randomised, multi-arm studies, cross-over studies and cluster-randomised studies that included children aged between 5 and 18 years with functional daytime urinary incontinence.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened records and determined the eligibility of studies for inclusion according to predefined criteria. Where data from the study were not provided, we contacted the study authors to request further information. Two review authors assessed risk of bias and processed included study data as described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Where meta-analysis was possible, we applied random-effects meta-analysis using the Mantel-Haenszel method for dichotomous outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

The review included 27 RCTs involving 1803 children. Of these, six were multi-arm and one was also a cross-over study. Most studies were small, with numbers randomised ranging from 16 to 202. A total of 19 studies were at high risk of bias for at least one domain. Few studies reported data suitable for pooling due to heterogeneity in interventions, outcomes and measurements.Individual conservative interventions (lifestyle, behavioural or physical) versus no treatmentTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) versus sham (placebo) TENS. More children receiving active TENS may achieve continence (risk ratio (RR) 4.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.68 to 14.21; 3 studies; n = 93; low-certainty evidence).One individual conservative intervention versus another individual or combined conservative interventionPelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) with urotherapy versus urotherapy alone. We are uncertain whether more children receiving PFMT with urotherapy achieve continence (RR 2.36, 95% CI 0.65 to 8.53, 95% CI 25 to 100; 3 studies; n = 91; very low-certainty evidence).Voiding education with uroflowmetry feedback and urotherapy versus urotherapy alone. Slightly more children receiving voiding education with uroflow feedback and urotherapy may achieve continence (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.45; 3 studies; n = 151; low-certainty evidence).Urotherapy with timer watch versus urotherapy alone. We are uncertain whether urotherapy plus timer watch increases the number of children achieving continence compared to urotherapy alone (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.80; 1 study; n = 58; very low-certainty evidence).Combined conservative interventions versus other combined conservative interventionsTENS and standard urotherapy versus PFMT with electromyographic biofeedback and standard urotherapy. We are uncertain whether there is any evidence of a difference between treatment groups in the proportions of children achieving continence (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.68; 1 study; n = 78; very low-certainty evidence).PFMT with electromyography biofeedback and standard urotherapy versus PFMT without feedback but with standard urotherapy. We are uncertain whether there is any evidence of a difference between treatment groups in the proportions of children achieving continence (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.52; 1 study; n = 41; very low-certainty evidence).Individual conservative interventions versus non-conservative interventions (pharmacological or invasive, combined or not with any conservative interventions)PFMT versus anticholinergics. We are uncertain whether more children receiving PFMT than anticholinergics achieve continence (RR 1.92, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.15; equivalent to an increase from 33 to 64 per 100 children; 2 studies; n = 86; very low-certainty evidence).TENS versus anticholinergics. We are uncertain whether there was any evidence of a difference between treatment groups in the proportions of children achieving continence (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.05 to 12.50; 2 studies; n = 72; very low-certainty evidence).Combined conservative interventions versus non-conservative interventions (pharmacological or invasive, combined or not with any conservative interventions)Voiding education with uroflowmetry feedback versus anticholinergics. We are uncertain whether there was any evidence of a difference between treatment groups in the proportion of children achieving continence (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.78; 1 study; n = 64; very low-certainty evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The review found little reliable evidence that can help affected children, their carers and the clinicians working with them to make evidence-based treatment decisions. In this scenario, the clinical experience of individual clinicians and the support of carers may be the most valuable resources. More well-designed research, with well-defined interventions and consistent outcome measurement, is needed.

Immediate effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on urodynamic parameters of children with myelomeningocele

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the immediate response of electrical stimulation in children with neurogenic bladder (NB) due to myelomeningocele, using the urodynamic study (UDS).

METHODS

This is a nonrandomized intervention study with 26 children with neurogenic overactive bladder and low bladder compliance due to myelomeningocele, aged 5 to 15 years. Each child performed a routine UDS and then a second UDS, during which the electrical stimulation was applied in the parasacral region. The main outcome was the difference in the maximum bladder pressure observed between the two urodynamic studies, analyzed from the paired t test.

RESULTS

We found that 77% of the patients had a lower maximum bladder pressure in the test with electrostimulation compared with the ones without electrostimulation. On average, the pressure reduction after stimulation was 7.24 cmH₂ O (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-14.14; P = .04). The reduction was even higher in children under 12 years of age, compared with the children above 12 years (11.29 cmH₂ O, 95% CI, 3.47-19.12; P = .01).

CONCLUSION

The use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation had a significant immediate effect on reducing the maximum bladder pressure during the urodynamic studies among the tested pediatric patients with NB. The results were more significant among children under 12 years of age.