Transcutaneous Neuromodulation Research Articles

TRANSCUTANEOUS NEUROMODULATION FOR THE URGE SYNDROME IN CHILDREN: A PILOT STUDY

Neuromodulation has been used to treat voiding dysfunction in adults. Due to its invasiveness it has rarely been used in children until now with the availability of transcutaneous neurostimulation. We evaluated clinical effects of transcutaneous neuromodulation on detrusor overactivity in children with the urge syndrome. Between May 1, 1998 and February 28, 1999, 15 girls (mean age 10.2 years) and 26 boys (mean age 10.7 years) with proved detrusor hyperactivity on videourodynamic study underwent neuromodulation. All children had been given anticholinergic therapy previously. Neurostimulation only was used in children in whom anticholinergics had no effect and those who had significant side effects. Anticholinergics were continued in children in whom they had a partial effect. Stimulation of 2 Hz. was applied for 2 hours every day. Surface electrodes were placed at the level of sacral root S3. After 1 month of trial stimulation those children who responded continued the treatment for 6 months, and were evaluated every 2 months. Of the 41 children 15 boys and 13 girls responded after 1 month of trial therapy with an increase in bladder capacity, decrease in urgency, decrease in incontinence and/or better sensitivity. Of the 13 children who did not respond 9 lacked motivation and 4 had no clinical effect despite motivation. After 6 months of therapy a significant increase in bladder capacity, decrease in voiding frequency and decrease in incontinence periods were noted. Adverse effects were not observed. One year after therapy relapse was noted in 7 patients, leaving 21 of 41 children definitively cured. Although preliminary, our results indicate that transcutaneous neuromodulation can improve symptoms of detrusor overactivity, as response to stimulation was noted in 76% of our patients and 56% were cured after 1 year. This therapeutic option is attractive for children because of its noninvasiveness and absence of adverse effects.

A PILOT STUDY OF THE HOME APPLICATION OF TRANSCUTANEOUS NEUROMODULATION IN CHILDREN WITH URGENCY OR URGE INCONTINENCE

We evaluated the efficacy of transcutaneous neuromodulation to treat urinary urgency and urge incontinence in children with nonneurological bladder dysfunction. Surface neuromodulation was delivered via skin electrodes away from the genital region for a short duration daily on a home treatment basis. Clinical outcome was measured by 3 tools previously tested for reliability including the frequency volume chart, urgency visual analog scale and accident diary ("Dry Pie"). After at least 1 month of application dryness had improved in 73.3% of children, mean urgency score had improved to equate action at urge as being 'easy to hold on' and there was a significant increase in mean voided volume. Initial evaluation of the home application of surface neuromodulation in children with urgency and/or urge incontinence revealed positive results and warrants a randomized controlled investigation. The finding that children were not completely dry with this treatment in isolation suggests that further study is needed to identify optimal treatment duration and stimulus intensity.

THE DYSFUNCTIONAL VOIDING SCORING SYSTEM: QUANTITATIVE STANDARDIZATION OF DYSFUNCTIONAL VOIDING SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

THE DYSFUNCTIONAL VOIDING SCORING SYSTEM: QUANTITATIVE STANDARDIZATION OF DYSFUNCTIONAL VOIDING SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN