Treatment Outcome of Acute Sacral Nerve Stimulation in Functional Anorectal Pain

Efficacy of electroacupuncture therapy in patients with functional anorectal pain: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Some Chinese scholars have initially explored the efficacy of electroacupuncture at Baliao acupoint in patients with functional anorectal pain (FAP). However, their studies are performed in a single center, or the sample size is small. Therefore, we aim to further explore the efficacy of electroacupuncture at Baliao acupoint on the treatment of FAP.

METHODS

In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, 136 eligible FAP patients will be randomly allocated into an electroacupuncture group or sham electroacupuncture group at a 1:1 ratio. This trial will last for 34 weeks, with 2 weeks of baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment, and 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up. Outcome assessors and statisticians will be blind. The primary outcome will be clinical treatment efficacy, and secondary outcomes will be pain days per month, quality of life, psychological state assessment, anorectal manometry, pelvic floor electromyography, and patient satisfaction.

DISCUSSION

Results of this trial will be contributed to further clarify the value of electroacupuncture at Baliao acupoint as a treatment for FAP in the clinic.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial has been registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry  https://www.chictr.org.cn/  (ChiCTR2300069757) on March 24, 2023.

Spinal Cord Stimulation for Intractable Visceral Pain Originating from the Pelvic and Abdominal Region: A Narrative Review on a Possible New Indication for Patients with Therapy-Resistant Pain

Aim

Visceral pain, characterized by pain that is diffuse and challenging to localize, occurs frequently and is difficult to treat. In cases where the pain becomes intractable despite optimal medical management, it can affect patients' Quality of Life (QoL). Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) has emerged as a potential solution for intractable visceral pain.

Purpose

In this narrative review, we collected all evidence regarding the efficacy of SCS for visceral pain across various underlying conditions.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science in which articles published from October 1st, 1963 up to March 7th, 2023 were identified.

Results

Seventy articles were included in this review of which most were retrospective cohort studies, case series and case reports. The studies, often with a small number of participants, reported on SCS for chronic pancreatitis, anorectal pain and bowel disorders, gynaecological diagnoses, visceral pelvic pain, urological disorders and finally general visceral pain. They found positive effects on pain and/or symptom relief, opioid consumption, anxiety and depression and QoL. Complications occurred frequently but were often minor and reversible.

Conclusion

Better screening and selection criteria need to be established to optimally evaluate eligible patients who might benefit from SCS. A positive outcome of a sympathetic nerve block appears to be a potential indicator of SCS effectiveness. Additionally, women receiving SCS for endometriosis had a better outcome compared to other indications. Finally, SCS could also relief functional symptoms such as voiding problems and gastroparesis. Complications could often be resolved with revision surgery. Since SCS is expensive and not always covered by standard health insurance, the incorporation of cost-analyses is recommended. In order to establish a comprehensive treatment plan, including selection criteria for SCS, rigorous prospective, possibly randomized and controlled studies that are diagnosis-oriented, with substantial follow-up and adequate sample sizes, are needed.

Psychological status of patients with functional anorectal pain and treatment efficacy of paroxetine in alleviating the symptoms: a retrospective study

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, psychological status, sleep quality, and quality of life of patients with functional anorectal pain (FAP). The study also assessed the treatment efficacy of paroxetine in alleviating FAP symptoms. A retrospective comparative study of forty-three patients with FAP who were first treated with an anal plug compound glycolate suppository versus paroxetine combined with anal plug compound glycolate suppository between November 2021 and August 2022. Pain, quality of life, depression, anxiety and sleep quality were assessed before and after treatment by the Chinese version of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2), Health-related quality of life scale (The 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, SF-12), 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A total of 46.5% of patients with FAP were found to have anxiety symptoms (HAMA ≥ 7), 37.2% of patients with FAP were found to have depressive symptoms (HDRS ≥ 8). A total of 32.6% of patients with FAP had sleep disorders (PSQI > 10). Within 1 week after drug withdrawal, the short-term efficacy rate of oral paroxetine was 95.5%. After treatment, the symptom pain score (VAS) and sleep score were lower than those before treatment (P < 0.01). In the areas of vitality (VT), Social Functioning (SF), and Mental Health (MH), the difference between the pre-treatment and 8 weeks posttreatment scores of the study group and the control group was statistically significant (P < 0.05). FAP patients have obvious symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the incidence of sleep disturbance is prevalent. Paroxetine, a typical serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), was able to alleviate depression, anxiety, and pain symptoms in FAP, which might have clinical application prospects.

Sacral neuromodulation in the management of chronic pelvic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is a treatment approved for use in several conditions including refractory overactive bladder (OAB) and voiding dysfunction. Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a debilitating condition for which treatment is often challenging. SNM shows promising effect in patients with refractory CPP. However, there is a lack of clear evidence, especially in long-term outcomes. This systematic review will assess outcomes of SNM for treating CPP.

METHODS

A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central and clinical trial databases was completed from database inception until January 14, 2022. Studies using original data investigating SNM in an adult population with CPP which recorded pre and posttreatment pain scores were selected. Primary outcome was numerical change in pain score. Secondary outcomes were quality of life assessment and change in medication use and all-time complications of SNM. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Tool for cohort studies.

RESULTS

Twenty-six of 1026 identified articles were selected evaluating 853 patients with CPP. The implantation rate after test-phase success was 64.3%. Significant improvement of pain scores was reported in 13 studies; three studies reported no significant change. WMD in pain scores on a 10-point scale was -4.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] = -5.32 to -3.95, p < 0.00001) across 20 studies which were quantitatively synthesized: effects were maintained at long-term follow-up. Mean follow-up was 42.5 months (0-59). Quality of life was measured by RAND SF-36 and EQ-5D questionnaires and all studies reported improvement in quality of life. One hundred and eighty-nine complications were reported in 1555 patients (Clavien-Dindo Grade I-IIIb). Risk of bias ranged from low to high risk. Studies were case series and bias stemmed from selection bias and loss to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Sacral Neuromodulation is a reasonably effective treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain and significantly reduces pain and increases patients' quality of life with immediate to long-term effects.

Optimal management of functional anorectal pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Functional anorectal is idiopathic and characterised by severe and potentially intractable anorectal pain. The current review aims to appraise available evidence for the management of functional anorectal pain and synthesise reported outcomes using network meta-analysis. PubMed, CENTRAL and Web of Science databases were searched for studies investigating treatments for functional anorectal pain. The primary outcome was clinical improvement of symptoms and the secondary outcome was pain scores reported during follow-up. A Bayesian network meta-analysis of interventions was performed. A total of 1538 patients were included from 27 studies. Intramuscular injection of triamcinolone, sacral neuromodulation (SNM) and biofeedback were most likely to be associated with improvement in symptoms [SUCRA (triamcinolone) = 0.79; SUCRA (SNM) = 0.74; SUCRA (Biofeedback) = 0.61]. Electrogalvanic stimulation (EGS), injection of botulinum toxin A and topical glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) were less likely to produce clinical improvement [SUCRA (EGS) = 0.53; SUCRA (Botox) = 0.30; SUCRA (GTN) = 0.27]. SNM and biofeedback were associated with the largest reductions in pain scores [mean difference, range (SNM) = 4.6-8.2; (Biofeedback) = 4.6-6]. As biofeedback is noninvasive and may address underlying pathophysiology, it is a reasonable first-line choice in patients with high resting pressures or defecation symptoms. In patients with normal resting pressures, SNM or EGS are additional options. Although SNM is more likely to produce a meaningful response compared to EGS, EGS is noninvasive and has less morbidity. Whilst triamcinolone injection is associated with symptomatic clinical improvement, the magnitude of pain reduction is less.