The Efficacy of Intravaginal Pelvic Floor Electrical Stimulation with Microchip for the Treatment of Female Urinary Incontinence / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The effect and safety of new intravaginal pelvic floor electrical stimulation, with a distal microchip (PIC16C74), for precision and comfort, in the treatment of female stress, urge and mixed incontinence, were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight incontinent women were divided into three groups stress incontinence (13), urge incontinence (12) and mixed incontinence (13). Evaluations, both before and after treatment, including history taking, a physical examination, a stress provocation test, a 1-hour pad test, voiding diaries, female lower urinary tract symptom and quality of life questionnaires, were conducted. All patients were treated by pelvic floor electrical stimulation, twice a week, for 6 weeks. The success rate, complications, satisfaction and quality of life were evaluated 1 month later. RESULTS: The overall success rate was 60.5%. 53.8 (7/13), 66.7 (8/12) and 61.5% (8/13) success rates were found in patients with stress, urge, and mixed type incontinence, respectively. Success rates of 58.8 (10/17) and 55.6% (5/9) were also found in grades I and II, respectively. There were no significant differences in the success rates between the types and grades of incontinence. 73.7% (28/38) of the patients were satisfied with the treatment, and their quality of life improved from 2.4 to 7.2, on the visual analog scales. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the new intravaginal electrical stimulation, with the microchip (PIC16C74), is an effective and safe treatment for female urinary incontinence, although a longer follow-up period will be required to determine the long term effects.