Efficacy of transcutaneous functional electrical stimulation on urinary incontinence in myelomeningocele: results of a pilot study

Functional electrical stimulation for management of urinary incontinence in children with myelomeningocele: a randomized trial

PURPOSE

To report the efficacy of transcutaneous functional electrical stimulation (FES) in children with refractory neuropathic urinary incontinence secondary to myelomeningocele (MMC).

METHODS

Thirty children with history of MMC (12 girls and 18 boys, mean age 6.7 ± 3.6 years) with refractory urinary incontinence were enrolled in this study. They were randomly allocated to treatment (FES, 15 children) and control (sham stimulation, 15 children) groups. All patients underwent urodynamic study (UDS) before and 6 months after FES considering detrusor leak point pressure (DLPP), mean maximal detrusor pressure, and mean maximal bladder capacity. Daily incontinence score, frequency of pad changing, and enuresis were also assessed before and 6 months after treatment. A 15-course FES was performed for 15 min and 3 times per week. Children were followed for at least 6 months.

RESULTS

Of UDS variables, DLPP increased significantly from 32 ± 10.7 cmH2O before treatment to 55.6 ± 24.9 cmH2O in treatment group after 6 months (P < 0.03). Daily incontinence score (range 0-3) improved significantly in treatment group from 2.7 ± 0.4 before treatment to 1.3 ± 0.9 after treatment compared with sham stimulation group (P < 0.02).

CONCLUSION

This type of electrical stimulation is a safe, noninvasive, and effective modality to improve urinary incontinence in myelomeningocele children and can be used at home.

Neuromodulation for Neurogenic Bladder

Although neuromodulation is well established for the treatment of non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms, recent literature supports its use in the patient having LUTS associated with a neurologic condition. Sacral neuromodulation, in particular, may see new use as a modality to facilitate neurologic remodeling in spinal cord injured patients as well as children. As a therapeutic option, sacral neuromodulation and dorsal genital nerve stimulation may one day become more effective and more efficient utilizing the concept of closed-loop feedback, where electro-neurogram and bladder pressure data are incorporated into stimulation routines. In addition, some older therapies are reviewed that have recently demonstrated success in this patient population.

Efficacy of salvage interferential electrical stimulation therapy in patients with medication-refractory enuresis: a pilot study

Purpose

In pediatric patients with enuresis, the protocol for salvage therapy in patients in whom first-line therapy was not successful has not yet been established. Interferential electrical stimulation (IF-ES) therapy is advantageous because it is noninvasive and shows high compliance. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of IF-ES therapy on pediatric enuresis in a pilot study.

Methods

We investigated 10 patients who underwent IF-ES therapy between August 2012 and March 2013 at our clinic. Patients with a history of previous treatment with desmopressin and anticholinergic agents for at least 3 months and those in whom alarm treatment previously failed or was refused by parents were eligible. Electrical current was given starting at approximately 20 mA and was increased until the patient complained of discomfort. Treatment was performed once a week, 20 minutes per treatment, 6 times per cycle. After each cycle, an interview was performed and voiding diaries were filled. The physician in charge evaluated improvement according to the International Children's Continence Society criteria.

Results

A final analysis was performed in 10 patients (5 male and 5 female patients) in whom therapy for nocturnal enuresis had failed. Eight patients had nonmonosymptomatic enuresis and 2 had monosymptomatic enuresis. The mean age of the patients was 8.5±2.4 years, and the mean number of treatments was 10.6±3.6 times. A full response was observed in 1 patient (10%); a good response, in 1 patient (10%); a partial response, in 7 patients (70%); and no response, in 1 patient (10%).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that IF-ES therapy can be a promising treatment for the future, is safe, and can benefit from appropriate clinical trials in carefully selected groups. IF-ES therapy is expected to be a safe and effective treatment modality for children with enuresis.