Long-term effects ten years after maximal electrostimulation of the pelvic floor in women with unstable detrusor and urge incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to study any long-term therapeutic effects of maximal electrical stimulation in female urge incontinence.


METHODS
A postal questionnaire containing six questions about urinary incontinence was distributed to 30 women who had been treated with maximal stimulation because of unstable detrusor and urge incontinence 9-13 years earlier. The response rate was 90% (27 women). The mean age at follow-up was 62 years.


RESULTS
Twenty-one (78%) women reported symptoms of urge incontinence. Among them, 13 had this problem daily, whereas eight only had problems weekly or even more seldom. Nineteen (70%) women reported symptoms of stress incontinence. Twenty-one women would have recommended maximal stimulation to a friend today.


CONCLUSIONS
After approximately ten years most of the women had symptoms of urge incontinence. This was, however, a minor problem among a third of them. A majority of the women were satisfied with maximal stimulation as a treatment modality. The treatment had not prevented a later occurrence of stress incontinence.
Bratt
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway.
Salvesen
K A
KA
Eriksen
B C
BC
Kulseng-Hanssen
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*