title: Selecting patients for sacral nerve stimulation.
abstract: Patient selection for SNS remains empiric. A key is to think of voiding dysfunctions in terms of voiding behaviors and pelvic floor muscle function, not organ-based labels. Patients who have intractable urinary frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, or idiopathic urinary retention should be considered as prime candidates. Evidence of high-tone pelvic floor muscle dysfunction also may be demonstrated on routine physical examination, as well as diagnostic studies such as pelvic-floor EMG. A successful trial stimulation remains the best indicator for patient selection, and should be used as a routine diagnostic test among patients who have chronic, life-altering voiding complaints that cannot be resolved adequately by medications or behavioral interventions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Continence Care, Metropolitan Urologic Specialists, 360 Sherman Ave, Suite 450, St. Paul, MN 55102, USA.
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Siegel
mesh_terms: D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000503:physiopathology; D018579:Patient Selection; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology; D010808:Physical Examination; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014563:Urodynamics