title: Usefulness of sacral nerve modulation in a series of multiple sclerosis patients with bladder dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bladder dysfunctions are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) often causing the most distressing symptoms. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effectiveness of sacral nerve modulation (SNM) in this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an observational retrospective survey in 17 patients treated with SNM in the north-east of Italy, all complaining of bladder symptoms (storage in 41%, voiding in 24%, mixed in 35%) unresponsive to conventional therapies, with a mean follow-up of 52 ± 26 months and mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 5.8 ± 1.8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  75% of patients reported significant and lasting improvement in bladder symptoms and in quality of life. We observed a statistically significant improvement in frequency, urgency, number of pads, residual volumes, number of catheterizations and in the voided volumes. In 5 out of 6 cases with mixed symptoms the stimulation was discontinued (device totally explanted or turned off) after a mean time of 66 months (range 10-84 months) after the implant, for disease progression or loss of efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SNM could be an option in very selected cases of storage and voiding symptoms refractory to conservative treatments caused by a stable or slowly progressive MS considering its minimal invasiveness and reversibility. The poor results observed suggest avoiding this therapy in mixed symptoms and in cases of advanced disability.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, General Hospital of Dolo, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andretta
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simeone
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, General Hospital "Sta. Maria degli Angeli", Pordenone, Italy.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ostardo
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Sacro Cuore Hospital Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pastorello
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, General Hospital of Mirano, Venice, Italy. Electronic address: vdf@protec.it.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuliani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Bladder mixed symptoms; Bladder storage symptoms; Bladder voiding symptoms; Multiple sclerosis; Neurogenic bladder; Sacral nerve modulation