Transcutaneous sacral neurostimulation for irritative voiding dysfunction

with refractory irritative voiding dysfunction. Following an initial respon se, patients may successfully apply this treatment themselves to ensure lon g-term relief. Objective: Patients with irritative voiding dysfunction are often unresponsive to standard clinical treatment. We evaluated the respons e of such individuals to transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the third sacral nerve. Methods: 32 patients with refractory irritative voiding dysf unction (31 female and 1 male; mean age 47 years) were recruited to the stu dy. Ambulatory transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation was applied bilat erally to the third sacral dermatomes for 1 week. Symptoms of frequency, no cturia, urgency, and bladder pain were scored by each patient throughout an d up to 6 months following treatment. Results: The mean daytime frequency w as reduced from 11.3 to 7.96 (p = 0.01). Nocturia episodes were reduced fro m a mean of 2.6 to 1.8 (p = 0.01). Urgency and bladder pain mean symptom sc ores were reduced from 5.97 to 4.89 and from 1.48 to 0.64, respectively. Af ter stopping therapy, symptoms returned to pretreatment levels within 2 wee ks in 40% of the patients and within 6 months in 100%, Three patients who c ontinued with neurostimulation remained satisfied with this treatment modal ity at 6 months. Conclusions: Transcutaneous third sacral nerve stimulation may be an effective and noninvasive ambulatory technique for the treatment of patients with refractory irritative voiding dysfunction. Following an i nitial response, patients may successfully apply this treatment themselves to ensure long-term relief.