title: Comparison of the effects of electrical stimulation and posterior tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of transvaginal electrical stimulation (ES) and posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Women applying with symptoms of urgency, frequency, and nocturia with or without incontinence and diagnosed with OAB were divided into an ES or PTNS group. Bladder diary, urodynamics, 1-hour pad test, and King's Health Questionnaire were performed before and after treatment. ES was applied for 20 min, 6-8 weeks with pulses of 10-50 Hz square waves at a 300-µs or 1-ms pulse duration and a maximal output current of 24-60 mA with 5-10 Hz frequency, three times per week. PTNS was applied for 30 min once a week for 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five patients received ES, 17 patients received PTNS. Pad test, urinary diary, and quality of life parameters after both treatments decreased significantly; the decrease in the ES group was greater. The number of patients who describe themselves as cured was higher in the ES group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTNS and ES are both effective in the treatment of OAB with significant improvement in objective and subjective parameters. Objective results show no significant difference between the two groups; however, the number of patients who describe themselves as cured in the ES group was significantly higher.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey. fgungor @ yahoo.com
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gungor Ugurlucan
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onal
authors.forename: Ergul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Habibe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ayyildiz Erkan
authors.forename: Nezihe
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kizilkaya Beji
authors.forename: Onay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yalcin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000628:therapy*