title: Sacral nerve stimulation for the treatment of refractory voiding and bowel dysfunction.
abstract: Sacral nerve stimulation, sometimes referred to as a "pacemaker for the bladder and bowels" delivers nonpainful, electrical pulses to the sacral nerves to improve or restore function. A relatively simple procedure works via a complex mechanism to modulate the reflexes that influence the bladder, bowels, sphincters, and pelvic floor. Current approved indications include urinary urge incontinence, urgency-frequency, nonobstructive urinary retention, and fecal incontinence. The history, mechanism of action, evolution, and landmark literature for this treatment modality are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA. Electronic address: knoblett@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Noblett
authors.affiliation: Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA.
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cadish
mesh_terms: D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: incontinence; interstim; neuromodulation; sacral nerve stimulation