Clinical efficacy and action mechanism of electrical pudendal nerve stimulation in treating female stress urinary incontinence
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1000-6702.2013.08.003
- VernacularTitle:电针阴部神经刺激疗法治疗女性压力性尿失禁的临床疗效和作用机制
- Author:
Siyou WANG
;
Shujing ZHANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation;
Urinary incontinence,stress;
Ultrasonography;
Mechanism of action
- From:
Chinese Journal of Urology
2013;34(8):575-578
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and mechanism of electrical pudendal nerve stimulation (EPNS) in treating female stress urinary incontinence.Methods Thirty-five female patients with stress urinary incontinence were enrolled from May 2006 to April 2008.The average age was (54.9±9.7) years,the duration of incontinence was (74.1 ±45.6) months,the maximum urethral closure pressure was (63.7± 15.9) cm H2O,functional urethral length was (2.34±0.72) cm and bladder neck mobility was (1.23±0.76) cm.Long acupuncture needles were deeply inserted into four sacral points,which were located by the two edges of the sacrum on a level with the fourth sacral foramina and bilaterally to the tip of the coccyx.The needles were electrified (continuous waves,a frequency of 2.5 Hz,an intensity of 45-55 mA and 60 min once) to stimulate the pudendal nerves.When EPNS was performed,perineal ultrasonographic B-mode movements of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM),M-mode curves indicating the PFM contractions,vaginal pressure (VP) and PFM electromyogram were recorded simultaneously.Results When EPNS was performed correctly,the patient felt strong PFM contractions.Simultaneous records showed:1)B-mode cranio-caudal PFM movements; 2) M-mode PFM movement curves (amplitude:about 1 mm,n=31 ; in the other four patients,the M-mode curves were not obvious) ; 3) a sawtooth curve of VP changes (2.61±1.29 cm H2O,n=34); 4) PFM myoelectric waves (amplitude:23.9±25.3 μV).If during the EPNS process the electric current was stopped or its intensity was reduced or the two lower needles were drawn back 1-2 cm,then the above ultrasonographic PFM movements and VP changes disappeared.In the 35 patients,the ICI-Q-SF score was 12.9±2.9 before treatment and decreased to 3.5±3.3 after 27.5± 11.9 sessions of treatment (P<0.01).Twenty-five patients with ≥50% symptom improvement at the end of treatment were followed up for 24-72 months (mean 50),and 19 cases had ≥ 50% symptom improvement during the period of follow-up,including complete symptoms resolution in 10 cases.Conclusion EPNS can contract the PFMs and simulate PFM training to treat female stress incontinence.