ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for urinary symptoms or fecal incontinence gives improvement of female sexual function and whether improvement is due to physiological or psychological factors. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2008, 8 patients had an array of questionnaires before and after SNM implantation. The questionnaires were: the Questionnaire for Screening for Sexual Dysfunctions, the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction, the Symptom Checklist-90, the Maudsley Marital Questionnaire and the McGill-Mah Orgasm Questionnaire. Three of these 8 patients underwent vaginal plethysmography before and after implantation. RESULTS: No statistically significant changes were found, although there seems to be a trend toward improvement in orgasm scores. In plethysmography all 3 patients showed increased vaginal pulse amplitude with the stimulator turned on with both erotic and non-erotic stimuli. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not show a clear effect of SNM on sexual function, although there seems to be an improvement in orgasm scores. The lack of response on psychological questionnaires and the increase in vaginal pulse amplitude after SNM implantation indicate that there might be a physiological response.
Subject(s)
Electric Stimulation Therapy , Fecal Incontinence/therapy , Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/therapy , Sacrum , Sexual Behavior , Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/therapy , Vagina/innervation , Electric Stimulation Therapy/instrumentation , Fecal Incontinence/complications , Fecal Incontinence/physiopathology , Fecal Incontinence/psychology , Female , Humans , Implantable Neurostimulators , Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/complications , Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/physiopathology , Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/psychology , Netherlands , Orgasm , Patient Satisfaction , Plethysmography , Prospective Studies , Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/etiology , Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/physiopathology , Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/psychology , Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological/etiology , Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological/physiopathology , Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological/psychology , Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological/therapy , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
AIM: Sacral nerve modulation is a well accepted method for the treatment of defaecation disorders and voiding dysfunction. Results of sacral nerve modulation in patients with spinal cord lesions are not well assessed, but preliminary results look poor. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of sacral nerve modulation for defaecation disorders and voiding dysfunction in patients with spina bifida. METHOD: Consecutive patients with spina bifida suffering from a myelomeningocele and combined faecal and urinary functional disorders that were eligible for peripheral nerve evaluation (PNE) were studied. A permanent sacral nerve modulation implantation was performed after successful PNE. RESULTS: Ten patients (four female) were included in this study with a median age of 26.4 (range 11.1-41.0) years. In two the PNE was not possible. The median faecal incontinence days (6.0 vs 3.5) and episodes (8.5 vs 3.5) per 21 days decreased significantly during the 3-week period of PNE (P = 0.033). Only 3/10 (30%) patients had a more than 50% improvement and proceeded to a permanent sacral nerve modulation implantation. In one patient it was not possible to perform the permanent implant. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results of sacral nerve modulation in a subgroup of spina bifida patients with combined faecal and urinary functional disorders look promising, but long-term results in larger patient groups need to be studied.
