title: Short-term results of bilateral S2-S4 sacral neuromodulation for the treatment of refractory interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome, and chronic pelvic pain.
abstract: We evaluated the efficacy of bilateral caudal epidural sacral neuromodulation for the treatment of refractory chronic pelvic pain (CPP), painful bladder syndrome, and interstitial cystitis (IC). Thirty consecutive patients (21 female, 9 male) with severe refractory symptoms underwent bilateral S2-S4 sacral neuromodulation for CPP/IC. Patients were evaluated with the O'Leary IC symptom and problem index (ICSI, ICPI), the short form of the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), and the RAND 36-item health survey (SF-36) preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. The mean and minimum follow-up were 15 and 6 months, respectively. Of the 30 patients, 23 (77%) had a successful trial stimulation and were permanently implanted. Among these patients, the ICSI and ICPI scores improved by 35 (p = 0.005) and 38% (p = 0.007), respectively. The pain score improved by 40% (p = 0.04) and the UDI-6 score by 26% (p = 0.05). On average, patients reported a 42% improvement in their symptoms. SF-36 scores did not improve significantly. In refractory patients, bilateral caudal epidural sacral neuromodulation is another possible mode of treatment, which appears to improve both pelvic pain and voiding symptoms.
authors.affiliation: The Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zabihi
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mourtzinos
authors.forename: Mary Grey
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raz
authors.forename: Larissa V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000628:therapy*