Is percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) effective for fecal incontinence (FI) in adults compared with sham electrical stimulation? A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sacral nerve neuromodulation (SNM) has been considered the optimal second-line treatment for fecal incontinence (FI). However, SNM involves high cost and requires highly skilled operators. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) has emerged as an alternative treatment modality for FI, yielding varying clinical outcomes. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of PTNS compared to sham electrical stimulation for FI. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies from May 12, 2012 to May 12, 2022. RESULTS: Four randomized controlled studies were included in this review, involving a total of 439 adult patients with FI (300 in the PTNS group and 194 in the sham electrical stimulation group). Our meta-analysis revealed that PTNS demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing weekly episodes of FI compared to the control groups (MD - 1.6, 95% CI - 2.94 to - 0.26, p = 0.02, I2 = 30%). Furthermore, a greater proportion of patients in the PTNS group reported more than a 50% reduction in FI episodes per week (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.57-0.94, p = 0.02, I2 = 6%). However, no significant differences were observed in any domains of the FI Quality of Life (QoL) and St Mark's incontinence scores (MD - 2.41, 95% CI - 5.1 to 0.27, p = 0.08, I2 = 67%). Importantly, no severe adverse events related to PTNS were reported in any of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis revealed that PTNS was more effective than sham stimulation in reducing FI episodes and led to a higher proportion of patients reporting more than a 50% reduction in weekly FI episodes.

Effects of posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) on lower urinary tract dysfunction: An umbrella review.

BACKGROUND: Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is a common, troublesome condition that often negatively affects patients' quality of life. Current literature has long been interested in how posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) can affect this condition. AIM: To extensively and systematically explore how PTNS affects LUTD based on the most recent systematic reviews. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. All the systematic reviews, with or without meta-analysis that assessed the effects of PTNS on LUTD were retrieved. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool, and analysis was conducted using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3 tool. RESULTS: From a total of 3077 citations, 20 systematic reviews entered this study, and 13 of them included meta-analysis. The population of studies varied vastly, for instance, some studies included only children or women while other focused on a specific pathology like multiple sclerosis-induced neurogenic LUTD. The majority of included studies reported an overall improvement in LUTD following percutaneous PTNS, although admitting that these results were derived from moderate to low-quality evidence. CONCLUSION: The findings of this thorough umbrella review showed that the positive benefits of PTNS in treating LUTD are currently supported by low-quality evidence, and it is crucial to interpret them with great care.

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation of the Abdomen, Ear, and Tibial Nerve Modulates Bladder Contraction in a Rat Detrusor Overactivity Model: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: The global prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) is estimated at 11.8%. Despite existing treatment options such as sacral neuromodulation, a substantial number of patients remain untreated. One potential alternative is noninvasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation. This form of stimulation does not necessitate the implantation of an electrode, thereby eliminating the need for highly skilled surgeons, expensive implantable devices, or regular hospital visits. We hypothesized that alternative neural pathways can impact bladder contraction. METHODS: In this pilot study, we conducted transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the abdominal wall (T6-L1), the ear (vagus nerve), and the ankle (tibial nerve) of 3 anesthetized female Sprague-Dawley rats. Stimulation was administered within a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and its impact on intravesical pressure was measured. We focused on 3 primary outcomes related to intravesical pressure: (1) the pressure change from the onset of a contraction to its peak, (2) the average duration of contraction, and (3) the number of contractions within a specified timeframe. These measurements were taken while the bladder was filled with either saline or acetic acid (serving as a model for OAB). RESULTS: Transcutaneous stimulation of the abdominal wall, ear, and ankle at a frequency of 20 Hz decreased the number of bladder contractions during infusion with acetic acid. As revealed by a comparison of various stimulation frequencies of the tibial nerve during bladder infusion with acetic acid, the duration of contraction was significantly shorter during stimulation at 1 kHz and 3 kHz relative to stimulation at 20 Hz (P = 0.025 and P = 0.044, respectively). CONCLUSION: The application of transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the abdominal wall, ear, and tibial nerve could provide less invasive and more cost-effective treatment options for OAB relative to percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation and sacral neuromodulation. A follow-up study involving a larger sample size is recommended.

Characteristics associated with subjective and objective measures of treatment success in women undergoing percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation vs sham for accidental bowel leakage.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: In randomized trials both percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) and sham result in clinically significant improvements in accidental bowel leakage (ABL). We aimed to identify subgroups who may preferentially benefit from PTNS in women enrolled in a multicenter randomized trial. METHODS: This planned secondary analysis explored factors associated with success for PTNS vs sham using various definitions: treatment responder using three cutoff points for St. Mark's score (≥3-, ≥4-, and ≥5-point reduction); Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) of ≥ much better; and ≥50% reduction in fecal incontinence episodes (FIEs). Backward logistic regression models were generated using elements with significance of p<0.2 for each definition and interaction terms assessed differential effects of PTNS vs sham. RESULTS: Of 166 women randomized, 160 provided data for at least one success definition. Overall, success rates were 65% (102 out of 158), 57% (90 out of 158), and 46% (73 out of 158) for ≥3-, ≥4-, and ≥5-point St Mark's reduction respectively; 43% (68 out of 157) for PGI-I; and 48% (70 out of 145) for ≥50% FIEs. Of those providing data for all definitions of success, 77% (109 out of 142) met one success criterion, 43% (61 out of 142) two, and 29% (41 out of 142) all three success criteria. No reliable or consistent factors were associated with improved outcomes with PTNS over sham regardless of definition. CONCLUSIONS: Despite exploring diverse success outcomes, no subgroups of women with ABL differentially responded to PTNS over sham. Success results varied widely across subjective and objective definitions. Further investigation of ABL treatment success definitions that consistently and accurately capture patient symptom burden and improvement are needed.

Non-inferior and more feasible transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in treating overactive bladder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Overactive bladder (OAB) is identified as a urinary urgency accompanied by frequency and nocturia with or without urgency urinary incontinence in the nonexistence of a urinary tract infection or other evident pathologies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) versus percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) or anticholinergic drugs in reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life for OAB patients. METHODS: We performed a systematic search in Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL, in which we included randomized controlled trials that compared TTNS with anticholinergic drugs or PTNS in treating idiopathic OAB. We evaluated the following outcomes: 3-day voiding diary (voiding frequency/day, daytime micturition frequency/day, nighttime micturition frequency/day, number of urgency episodes/day, number of incontinence episodes/day, and mean voiding volume), symptom bother, health related quality of life (HRQoL), and adverse events. We used 95% as a confidence interval (CI) and p < 0.05. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was used for continuous outcomes, and the risk ratio (RR) was used for dichotomous outcomes. RESULTS: There was no significant difference comparing TTNS with anticholinergic drugs or PTNS regarding voiding frequency/day (SMD = -0.01, 95% CI -0.33 to 0.32), nighttime micturition frequency/day (SMD = -0.28, 95% CI -0.94 to 0.37), number of urgency episodes/day (SMD = -0.05, 95% CI -0.36 to 0.26), number of incontinence episodes/day (SMD = -0.04, 95% CI -0.32 to 0.25), symptom bother (SMD = -0.19, 95% CI -0.55 to 0.16), HRQoL (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI -0.32 to 0.85), and adverse events (RR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.54). CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis reveals that there is no statistically significant difference between TTNS versus PTNS or anticholinergic drugs for the nonsurgical management of OAB patients.

Does response to percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation predict similar outcome to sacral nerve stimulation?

AIMS: Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is a simple neuromodulation technique to treat an overactive bladder. It is unclear whether the response to PTNS would suggest a similar response to sacral nerve stimulation (SNS), and whether PTNS could be utilized as an alternative test phase for an SNS implant. This study assessed whether PTNS response was a reliable indicator for subsequent SNS trials. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the hospital databases to collect all patients who had PTNS and who subsequently had an SNS trial in two tertiary hospitals from 2014 to 2020. Response to both interventions was assessed. A 50% reduction in overactive symptoms (frequency-volume charts) was considered a positive response. McNemar's tests using exact binomial probability calculations were used. The statistical significance level was set to 0.05. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients who had PTNS subsequently went on to a trial of SNS. All patients except one had previously poor response to PTNS treatment. Eight of them also failed the SNS trial. However, 15 patients (including the PTNS responder) had a successful SNS trial and proceeded with the second-stage battery implantation. The difference in response rates between the PTNS and SNS trial was statistically significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Poor response to PTNS does not seem to predict the likelihood of patients responding to SNS. A negative PTNS trial should not preclude a trial of a sacral nerve implant. The predictive factors for good and poor responses will be the subject of a larger study.

Treatment of refractory overactive bladder with OnabotulinumtoxinA vs PTNS: TROOP trial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that patients with refractory overactive bladder (rOAB) have similar improvement with percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) and OnabotulinumtoxinA (BTX). METHODS: This multicenter cohort study compared BTX and PTNS in women with rOAB. Baseline information included Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OABq) short form, Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), and voiding diary. Primary outcome was cure, defined as "very much better" or "much better" on the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGII) AND a reduction in OABq symptom severity scale (SSS) ≥10 at 3 months after treatment. Assuming 80% power to detect a ten-point difference in OABq-SSS, 80 participants were required per group. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients were enrolled; 97 completed 3 months of therapy and were included. At baseline, BTX patients had more detrusor overactivity (70% vs 40%, p = 0.025), urgency incontinence (UUI; OABq-SSS#6 4 vs 3, p = 0.02, SSS 65 vs 56, p = 0.04), but similar health-related quality of life (HRQL 49 vs 54, p = 0.28), voids (7 vs 8, p = 0.13), and UUI episodes (2 vs 2, p = 1.0). At 3 months, cure rates were similar: BTX 50% vs PTNS 44.2% (p = 0.56). Both groups had improved SSS (-37 vs -29, p = 0.08) and HRQL (31 vs 24, p = 0.14). Patients receiving BTX had a greater improvement in urgency (ΔOABq-SSS#2-3 vs -2; p = 0.02) and UUI (ΔOABq-SSS#6-2 vs -1; p = 0.02). No characteristics were predictive of cure. CONCLUSIONS: BTX resulted in significantly greater improvement in urgency and UUI than PTNS, but no difference in success based on PGII and OABq-SSS, which may be due to a lack of power.

Efficacy of percutaneous and transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in women with idiopathic overactive bladder: A prospective randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Different studies have reported the efficacy of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) and transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) in treating idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB). However, no study has compared the effectiveness of PTNS and TTNS added to bladder training (BT) in idiopathic OAB. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of PTNS and TTNS added to BT in women with idiopathic OAB. METHODS: We randomised 60 women with idiopathic OAB into 3 groups. Group 1 (n=19) received BT, Group 2 (n=19) received PTNS in addition to BT, and Group 3 (n=20) received TTNS in addition to BT. PTNS and TTNS were performed 2 days a week, for 30min a day, for a total of 12 sessions for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated by incontinence severity (pad test), a 3-day voiding diary (frequency of voiding, incontinence episodes, nocturia and number of pads used), symptom severity, quality of life, treatment success (positive response rate), treatment satisfaction (Likert scale), discomfort level and preparation time for stimulation (sec). RESULTS: At the end of treatment; severity of incontinence, frequency of voiding, incontinence episodes, nocturia, number of pads used, symptom severity and quality of life were significantly improved in Groups 2 and 3 versus Group 1 (P<0.0167). Treatment success and treatment satisfaction were higher in Groups 2 and 3 than Group 1 (P<0.001 and P<0.0167, respectively). Level of discomfort was lower, treatment satisfaction was higher and preparation time for stimulation was shorter in Group 3 than Group 2 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both the PTNS plus BT and TTNS plus BT were more effective than BT alone in women with idiopathic OAB. These 2 tibial nerve stimulation methods had similar clinical efficacy but with slight differences: TTNS had shorter preparation time, less discomfort level and higher patient satisfaction than PTNS.

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation versus sham efficacy in the treatment of refractory overactive bladder: outcomes following a shortened 6-week protocol, a prospective randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: It is a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation versus sham for a shortened 6-week protocol of treatment in management of refractory OAB in non-neurogenic adult patients. METHODS: A total of 50 adults with refractory non-neurogenic overactive bladder symptoms were randomized 1:1 to 6 weeks of treatment with weekly percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation or sham therapy. Overactive bladder symptom score as well as 3-day voiding diaries were completed at baseline and at 7th week, 3rd and 6th month. RESULTS: The 7th week, 3rd and 6th month symptom score assessment for overall bladder symptoms demonstrated that percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation patients achieved statistically significant improvement in bladder symptoms with 52% reporting moderately improved responses compared to non-response of sham patients from baseline (P = 0.001). Voiding diary parameters after 6 weeks of therapy showed that PTNS patients had statistically significant improvements in frequency, voided volume and urgency urinary incontinence episodes compared to sham. No serious device-related adverse events or malfunctions were reported. CONCLUSION: A shortened 6-week treatment protocol with PTNS appears to be successful and more effective than sham in the treatment of refractory OAB. PTNS therapy is safe and effective in treating OAB symptoms with 52% success rate following a shortened 6-week protocol. The duration of treatment with PTNS can be halved compared to the conventional 12 weeks, which would make it more acceptable and cost effective for patients.

Efficacy of sacral neuromodulation and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of chronic nonobstructive urinary retention: A systematic review.

AIM: The aim of this systematic review is to provide an updated report on the efficacy and complications of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in the treatment of chronic nonobstructive urinary retention (CNOUR), with a focus on the contemporary technique of SNM utilizing the percutaneous placement of tined leads. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted with the use of PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020208052). A systematic literature search was conducted in Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases. Inclusion criteria include English language and human participants. Exclusion criteria include SNM studies involving less than 10 CNOUR patients, studies containing data obtained using open, surgical implantation of nontined leads, and studies that only reported the test phase success rate with no long-term efficacy data. The risk of bias assessment was conducted using the National Institutes of Health study quality assessment tool. RESULTS: A total of 16 papers studies were included (11 SNM and 5 PTNS) in this review. The success rate for SNM ranges between 42.5% and 100% (median = 79.2%) for the test stimulation phase and 65.5%-100% (median = 89.1%) in the long term. Most SNM studies reported revision and explantation rates of lesser than 20%. The success rate was much lower for PTNS, in the 50%-60% range and complications were minimal. CONCLUSION: SNM using the contemporary percutaneous tined lead implantation technique appears to be an effective treatment for CNOUR and is durable in the long term. Compared to SNM, PTNS appears less efficacious with less evidence supporting its use in CNOUR. Further prospective studies are required to define the role of PTNS in the treatment of CNOUR.

Randomized Crossover-Controlled Evaluation of Simultaneous Bilateral Transcutaneous Electrostimulation of the Posterior Tibial Nerve During Urodynamic Studies in Patients With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

PURPOSE: Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) has proven to be a valuable treatment option for various lower urinary tract conditions, such as overactive bladder syndrome and neurogenic detrusor overactivity. The aim of this study was to investigate acute changes in urodynamic parameters due to bilateral TTNS. METHODS: Fifty-one patients (18-87 years; 61% female) with various lower urinary tract symptoms were enrolled in this study. They were single-blinded and randomly assigned to receive simultaneous bilateral TTNS either during their first urodynamic examination, followed by a second round using a placebo stimulation technique, or vice versa. RESULTS: For subjects without signs of anatomical pathologies, the filling volume at the first desire to void (FDV) increased significantly by 54 mL (interquartile range [IQR], 26-81 mL; P<0.01) under the influence of TTNS compared to placebo. The maximum cystometric capacity increased by 41 mL (IQR, 10-65 mL; P=0.02). The median micturition volume of patients with pathological postvoid residual volumes (>100 mL) increased by 76 mL compared to patients without urinary retention (IQR, 6-166 mL; P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Compared to placebo, simultaneous bilateral TTNS showed significant improvements in bladder functioning, such as delayed FDV, increased maximum cystometric capacity, and reduced urinary retention. Patients with signs of anatomical pathologies did not seem to benefit from TTNS. Further studies need to be conducted to compare the effectiveness of bilateral versus unilateral TTNS.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation to Treat Idiopathic Nonobstructive Urinary Retention: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) provide minimally invasive ways to treat idiopathic nonobstructive urinary retention (NOUR). OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of TENS and PTNS for treating idiopathic NOUR. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Embase, Medline, Web of Science Core Collection, and the Cochrane CENTRAL register of trials were searched for all relevant publications until April 2020. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A total of 3307 records were screened based on the title and abstract. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria. Five studies, all from the same group, reported the efficacy of PTNS and two that of TENS in adults with idiopathic NOUR. One study reported the efficacy of TENS in children with idiopathic NOUR. Objective success was defined as a ≥50% decrease in the number of catheterizations per 24 h or in the total catheterized volume in 24 h. The objective success rate of PTNS ranged from 25% to 41%. Subjective success was defined as the patient's request for continued chronic treatment with PTNS, and ranged from 46.7% to 59%. Eighty percent of women who underwent transvaginal stimulation reported an improvement such as a stronger stream when voiding. TENS in children reduced postvoid residual and urinary tract infections. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of TENS and PTNS in the treatment of idiopathic NOUR is limited and should be verified in larger randomized studies before application in clinical practice. PATIENT SUMMARY: The outcomes of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for the treatment of urinary retention of unknown origin were reviewed. Whether these treatments are superior to other treatments could not be established.

A Systematic Literature Review of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Therapies for the Treatment of Pain.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic literature review of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) for pain. DESIGN: Grade the evidence for PNS. METHODS: An international interdisciplinary work group conducted a literature search for PNS. Abstracts were reviewed to select studies for grading. Inclusion/exclusion criteria included prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with meaningful clinical outcomes that were not part of a larger or previously reported group. Excluded studies were retrospective, had less than two months of follow-up, or existed only as abstracts. Full studies were graded by two independent reviewers using the modified Interventional Pain Management Techniques-Quality Appraisal of Reliability and Risk of Bias Assessment, the Cochrane Collaborations Risk of Bias assessment, and the US Preventative Services Task Force level-of-evidence criteria. RESULTS: Peripheral nerve stimulation was studied in 14 RCTs for a variety of painful conditions (headache, shoulder, pelvic, back, extremity, and trunk pain). Moderate to strong evidence supported the use of PNS to treat pain. CONCLUSION: Peripheral nerve stimulation has moderate/strong evidence. Additional prospective trials could further refine appropriate populations and pain diagnoses.

Treatment patterns and costs among patients with OAB treated with combination oral therapy, sacral nerve stimulation, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, or onabotulinumtoxinA in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment patterns and costs were characterized among patients with overactive bladder (OAB) receiving later-line target therapies (combination mirabegron/antimuscarinic, sacral nerve stimulation [SNS], percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation [PTNS], or onabotulinumtoxinA). METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study using 2013 to 2017 MarketScan databases, two partially overlapping cohorts of adults with OAB ("IPT cohort": patients with incident OAB pharmacotherapy use; "ITT cohort," incident target therapy) with continuous enrollment were identified; first use was index. Demographic characteristics, treatment patterns and costs over the 24-month follow-up period were summarized. Crude mean (standard deviation [SD]) OAB-specific (assessed by OAB diagnostic code or pharmaceutical dispensation record) costs were estimated according to target therapy. RESULTS: The IPT cohort comprised 54 066 individuals (mean [SD] age 58.5 [15.0] years; 76% female), the ITT cohort, 1662 individuals (mean [SD] age 62.8 [14.9] years; 83% female). Seventeen percent of the IPT cohort were treated with subsequent line(s) of therapy after index therapy; among those, 73% received antimuscarinics, 23% mirabegron, and 1.4% a target therapy. For the ITT cohort, 32% were initially treated with SNS, 27% with onabotulinumtoxinA, 26% with combination mirabegron/antimuscarinic, and 15% with PTNS. Subsequently, one-third of this cohort received additional therapies. Mean (SD) costs were lowest among patients receiving index therapy PTNS ($6959 [$7533]) and highest for SNS ($29 702 [$26 802]). CONCLUSIONS: Costs for SNS over 24 months are substantially higher than other treatments. A treatment patterns analysis indicates that oral therapies predominate; first-line combination therapy is common in the ITT cohort and uptake of oral therapy after procedural options is substantial.

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for overactive bladder syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched systematically to identify all the relevant studies. Void frequency per day, nocturia frequency per day, urgency episodes per day, incontinence episodes per day, urodynamic values, success rate and side effects, etc., were extracted from the included studies and analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies with 2461 patients in total were included. Results showed that there was a significant clinical effect on the voiding frequency per day (MD = -2.48; 95% CI -3.19, -1.76; P < 0.001), nocturia frequency per day (MD = -1.57; 95% CI -2.16, -0.99; P < 0.001), urgency episodes per day (MD = -2.20; 95% CI -3.77, -0.62; P = 0.006), incontinence episodes per day (MD = -1.37; 95% CI -1.71, -1.02; P < 0.001), maximum cystometric capacity (MD = 63.76; 95% CI 31.90, 95.61; P < 0.001) and compliance (MD = 7.62; 95% CI 0.61, 14.63; P = 0.033). The pooled success rate was 0.68 (95% CI 0.59, 0.78). The major complication was the pain at the puncture site, but the incidence was low. CONCLUSIONS: PTNS is effective and safe in treating OAB symptoms.

Update on Implantable PTNS Devices.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There is growing evidence supporting the use of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation to manage lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as urgency, frequency and urge incontinence, in a non-pharmacologic, minimally invasive approach. Given this, there is now an impetus to move this technology forward from an interval (i.e., weekly and/or monthly) toward a continuous dosing, using implantable devices. This review article focuses on the newest implantable devices and the most current data demonstrating safety and efficacy in the management of refractory overactive bladder. RECENT FINDINGS: There are new studies showing that continuous (or even semi-continuous) stimulation of the tibial nerve can be of similar efficacy as other chronic neural implant devices, such as sacral neuromodulation. This includes the Blue Wind Renova, StimGuard, eCoin, and Bioness Stimrouter. While the data on these devices are still short-term, implantable tibial nerve stimulation holds promise in the field of managing LUTS and pelvic floor disorders. Durability and minimizing migration remain challenging.

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation can improve symptoms and quality of life in selected patients with faecal incontinence - A single-centre 5-year clinical experience.

INTRODUCTION: Faecal incontinence is a debilitating condition that affects a significant proportion of the population. Conservative management remains the mainstay of treatment but surgical intervention such as neuromodulation can be indicated in cases refractory to medical therapy. AIM: The aim of this study was to review the outcomes of patients who underwent percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) for faecal incontinence and urgency in a single institution over five years. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients completed the 12-week trial of PTNS with a success rate of 80% (n = 64/81). Rates of faecal incontinence and urgency were reduced from 13 episodes per fortnight to 3 and from 10 to 3 respectively. Over a median follow up of 2 years (range 0-5 years) reduction in rates of faecal urgency and incontinence were maintained. Quality of life parameters were measured using a variety of established questionnaires. Improvements were observed in the majority of parameters that were maintained throughout the follow up period. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation is one of the forms of neuromodulation available for the treatment of faecal incontinence and urgency in patients who failed conservative management. This study has shown that in carefully selected, motivated patients, the use of PTNS in conjunction with regular counseling from a specialist practitioner in pelvic floor disorders can improve both the symptoms and quality of life of patients with faecal urgency and mild faecal incontinence with improvements in symptomology maintained for up to 5 years.

Benefits and Harms of Electrical Neuromodulation for Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) may have pain refractory to conventional pain management strategies. Neuromodulation could provide relief of pain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefits and harms of neuromodulation for CPP. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A comprehensive search of EMBASE, PUBMED, and SCOPUS was performed for the entire database to January 2018. Studies were selected, data were extracted, and quality was assessed by two independent reviewers. A meta-analysis was used to combine randomized controlled trials (RCTs); otherwise, a narrative analysis was used. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: After screening 1311 abstracts, 36 studies including eight RCTs were identified, enrolling 1099 patients. Studies covered a broad range in terms of phenotypes of CPP and methods of neuromodulation. A meta-analysis was possible for percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, which showed improvement in pain. Only narrative synthesis was possible for other modalities (sacral nerve stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, intravaginal electrical stimulation, and pudendal nerve stimulation) which appeared to reduce pain in patients with CPP. Treatments generally improved quality of life but with variable reporting of adverse events. Many studies showed high risks of bias and confounding. CONCLUSIONS: While electrical neuromodulation may improve symptoms in CPP, further work is needed with high-quality studies to confirm it. PATIENT SUMMARY: Neuromodulation may be useful in reducing pain and improving quality of life in patients with chronic pelvic pain, but more research is needed.

How can we better manage drug-resistant OAB/DO? ICI-RS 2018.

AIMS: Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A), sacral nerve stimulation (SNM), and posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) are established treatments for idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB) refractory to oral drug therapy. At the ICI-RS meeting in Bristol in 2018 a think tank was convened to address the question of how to better manage drug-resistant OAB/DO (detrusor overactivity). METHODS: The think tank conducted a literature review and an expert consensus meeting focusing on the evidence for predicting response and adverse events (AEs) with the current therapies for drug-resistant idiopathic OAB. RESULTS: Several factors have been associated with poor outcomes using BTX-A including increasing age, body mass index, male sex, and frailty. Voiding dysfunction with BTX-A also appears to be more prevalent in those with increasing age, male sex, higher baseline postvoid residual and with poorer contractility as assessed by urodynamic parameters. SNM full implantation appears to be higher with the first stage tined lead placement procedure compared to percutaneous nerve evaluation. Urodynamics do not appear to predict outcomes with SNM. Patients with psychiatric comorbidity are more likely to experience AEs with SNM. Outcomes related to lead positioning and the number of active electrodes are mixed in predicting long term success. Patients with increased daytime frequency and lower first sensation of bladder filling were independent factors associated with success with PTNS. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is required to optimize these procedures and to better understand which patients will benefit from the various options available in managing refractory OAB.

The effect of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) on sexual function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is now an established treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction such as overactive bladder, faecal incontinence or voiding dysfunction. Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction is high in this group. We aim to examine the effect of PTNS on sexual function in this patient group by systematically reviewing the literature and pooling the data in a meta-analysis. METHODS: The literature search was conducted using the MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL databases. Initial results yielded 74 citations. From these, nine articles met our inclusion criteria. Two articles were doubly reported, leaving seven studies in the systematic review. Only four studies reported sufficient information to be included in our meta-analysis. RESULTS: Three studies were randomised controlled trials, and five were before-after studies. The number of participants in each study ranged from 11 to 220. Four out of seven studies reported a positive effect of PTNS on sexual function. In the meta-analysis of four studies there was a significant improvement in general sexual function with PTNS (p = 0.04, SMD -0.41, CI[-0.79, -0.03], I2 = 0%). In a subgroup analysis of the bowel domain of sexual function, there was a significant improvement with PTNS (p = 0.03, MD 17.7, CI [1.92, 33.47], I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: We report a systematic review on the effect of PTNS on sexual function. Although the studies are of small size, the results are promising in terms of a positive effect of PTNS on sexual function, and we recommend further research in this area.