Sacral nerve stimulation versus percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of severe fecal incontinence in men

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation versus sacral nerve stimulation for the treatment of faecal incontinence

Introduction

Faecal incontinence (FI) is a common condition with a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). Neuromodulation treatments delivered by members of the multidisciplinary team including sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) are options for FI refractory to conservative management. The aim of this study was to assess whether a successful treatment with one neuromodulation modality corresponds with success in the other.

Methods

A retrospective review of a prospectively managed neuromodulation database identified 15 patients who had undergone both PTNS and SNS. The definition of success of each treatment was a >50% improvement in any of The St. Mark's Incontinence Score, Manchester Health Questionnaire, or weekly faecal urgency or FI episodes.

Results

Complete data from 12 patients was available for assessment and PTNS was delivered as the first treatment in nine patients. Overall, seven patients (58%) had successful PTNS treatment, with 10 (83%) having a successful SNS trials. Of the seven patients who had successful PTNS treatment, six patients (85.4%) went on to have success with SNS. Of the five patients who failed PTNS, four (80%) went on to have SNS success. Five (71%) of those who had positive PTNS outcomes had permanent SNS implantation as their final treatment decision.

Conclusion

This study suggests that there is no clear relationship between successful PTNS treatment and an SNS trial period which may be explained by differing mechanisms of action or the potential placebo effect of PTNS. Further work is required to investigate any association in larger studies to inform clinical practice.

Effects of neuromodulation on treatment of recurrent anal fissure: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Anal fissure is a linear tear in the distal anoderm most frequently occurring in the posterior midline. Lateral internal sphincterotomy is considered the gold standard for the treatment of this condition. To this date, several pharmacological and neuromodulatory therapies have been tried out as alternative non-invasive treatments for anal fissures, however, the efficacy of some of these methods remains to be understood.

OBJECTIVE

the primary aim of this study was to review available literature on neuromodulatory treatments for recurrent anal fissure as a potentially effective cure for this condition.

DATA SOURCES

A search was conducted among five main online databases Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Scholar.

STUDY SELECTION

All published human studies in English literature addressing neuromodulation for the treatment of recurrent anal fissure were selected.

INTERVENTION

neuromodulation for the treatment of anal fissure. We chose to include all articles in which the authors stated that the procedure they performed was via neuromodulation technique, or that the described technique used in their study resembled the technique.

RESULT

Among a total of 3487 evaluated studies, seven represented the effects of neuro modulation on treatment of recurrent anal fissure, among which two were randomized controlled trials and the rest were prospective studies. A total of 186 patient were evaluated in these studies. The mean age of the participants was 46.97 ± 8.2. The average VAS score before intervention was 7.77 ± 2.13, which decreased to 0.31 ± 1.13 after intervention.

LIMITATIONS

limitations of this study include the lack of related articles, and data regarding this subject.

CONCLUSION

Posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) provides rapid pain relief and fissure healing especially in short-to mid-terms with little to no complications, however, using this treatment, symptoms of anal fissure do not improve as well as LIS, especially in the long-term.

The role of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in the treatment of chronic anal fissure: a systematic review

PURPOSE

This study was designed to summarize the current evidence regarding the role of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in the treatment of chronic anal fissure (CAF).

METHODS

The present systematic review of the literature was conducted on the basis of the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The primary endpoint of our study was the CAF recurrence rate. Quality assessment was based on the RoB 2 tool and the Case Series Quality Checklist.

RESULTS

Overall, 5 studies and 102 patients were included. A considerably heterogeneity in the neuromodulation technique and setting was identified. The pooled recurrence rate was estimated at the level of 19% (16/84). Post-interventional pain and Wexner scores were considerably reduced. The 2-month healing rate was 72% (18/25), whereas 73.6% of patients were symptom-free at 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

PTNS is an effective alternative for the non-operative management of CAF. Due to several limitations further larger and higher quality studies are required.

Tools for fecal incontinence assessment: lessons for inflammatory bowel disease trials based on a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Fecal incontinence is a disabling condition affecting up to 20% of women.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated fecal incontinence assessment in both inflammatory bowel disease and non-inflammatory bowel disease patients to propose a diagnostic approach for inflammatory bowel disease trials.

METHODS

We searched on Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library for all studies on adult inflammatory bowel disease and non-inflammatory bowel disease patients reporting data on fecal incontinence assessment from January 2009 to December 2019.

RESULTS

In total, 328 studies were included; 306 studies enrolled non-inflammatory bowel disease patients and 22 studies enrolled inflammatory bowel disease patients. In non-inflammatory bowel disease trials the most used tools were the Wexner score, fecal incontinence quality of life questionnaire, Vaizey score and fecal incontinence severity index (in 187, 91, 62 and 33 studies). Anal manometry was adopted in 41.2% and endoanal ultrasonography in 34.0% of the studies. In 142 studies (46.4%) fecal incontinence evaluation was performed with a single instrument, while in 64 (20.9%) and 100 (32.7%) studies two or more instruments were used. In inflammatory bowel disease studies the Wexner score, Vaizey score and inflammatory bowel disease quality of life questionnaire were the most commonly adopted tools (in five (22.7%), five (22.7%) and four (18.2%) studies). Anal manometry and endoanal ultrasonography were performed in 45.4% and 18.2% of the studies.

CONCLUSION

Based on prior validation and experience, we propose to use the Wexner score as the first step for fecal incontinence assessment in inflammatory bowel disease trials. Anal manometry and/or endoanal ultrasonography should be taken into account in the case of positive questionnaires.

Updates in treating fecal incontinence in women

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Fecal incontinence is a chronic condition that can significantly affect a woman's quality of life. The pathogenesis of fecal incontinence is multifaceted and management ranges from supportive care, medical therapy to more invasive surgical procedures. This review will discuss the recent advancements in treating fecal incontinence.

RECENT FINDINGS

The pelvic floor disorder consortium has created a consensus document with recommendations on pelvic floor symptom measurement tools, patient-reported instruments, and questionnaires that should be used when evaluating fecal incontinence. There is new robust data reinforcing the importance of conservative management prior to proceeding with more invasive treatment. Lastly, several novel therapies that were developed in the past decade now have longer term data on safety and efficacy.

SUMMARY

Management of fecal incontinence is challenging, as no one therapy has been proven to be predominately effective. We should continue to first optimize patients with conservative therapy followed by induction of more advanced therapies. There needs to be continued efforts to develop and evaluate effective treatment guidelines and therapies for fecal incontinence.

Neuromodulation for functional bladder disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis

The function of the lower urinary tract is mainly storage and voiding of urine, which is coordinated by the nervous system. Various diseases of the nervous system may cause neuro-urological symptoms. Neuro-urological symptoms depend on the localization of the disease and the extension of the neurological lesion. About 80% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have neuro-urological symptoms within 10 years after diagnosis. In addition, 10% of MS patients may even present with voiding dysfunction at disease onset. In this review, different types of neuromodulation are discussed. The available studies suggest that sacral neuromodulation (SNM) and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) may be helpful in the neuromodulation of MS-related overactive bladder symptoms. These techniques may not only decrease the severity of symptoms but also significantly improve the quality of life of affected patients. Exploring the role of implantable tibial nerve stimulation devices in patients with MS could open new doors in the management of urgency and urgency incontinence in this patient group.

Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation in Fecal Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the role of Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) in the control of Fecal Incontinence (FI).

METHODS

Two independent reviewers extensively searched in the electronic databases of Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, CINAHL, and Scopus for the studies published until the end of 2016. Only randomized clinical trials were included. The studied outcomes included FI episodes, FI score, resting pressure, squeezing pressure, and maximum tolerable pressure. The data were reported as Standardized Mean Differences (SMD) with 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

Five articles were included in the present study (249 patients under treatment with PTNS and 239 in the sham group). Analyses showed that PTNS led to a significant decrease in the number of FI episodes (SMD=-0.38; 95% CI: -0.67-0.10; P=0.009). Yet, it did not have an effect on FI score (SMD=0.13; 95% CI: -0.49-0.75; P=0.68), resting pressure (SMD=0.12; 95% CI: -0.14-0.37; P=0.67), squeezing pressure (SMD=-0.27; 95% CI: -1.03-0.50; P=0.50), and maximum tolerable pressure (SMD=-0.10; 95% CI: -0.40-0.24; P=0.52).

CONCLUSION

Based on the results, it seems that the prescription of PTNS alone cannot significantly improve FI.

Neuromodulation in multiple sclerosis

Neuromodulation, or the utilization of advanced technology for targeted electrical or chemical neuronal stimulation or inhibition, has been expanding in several neurological subspecialties. In the past decades, immune-modulating therapy has been the main focus of multiple sclerosis (MS) research with little attention to neuromodulation. However, with the recent advances in disease-modifying therapies, it is time to shift the focus of MS research to neuromodulation and restoration of function as with other neurological subspecialties. Preliminary research supports the value of intrathecal baclofen pump and functional electrical stimulation in improving spasticity and motor function in MS patients. Deep brain stimulation can improve MS-related tremor and trigeminal neuralgia. Spinal cord stimulation has been shown to be effective against MS-related pain and bladder dysfunction. Bladder overactivity also responds to sacral neuromodulation and posterior tibial nerve stimulation. Despite limited data in MS, transcranial magnetic stimulation and brain-computer interface are promising neuromodulatory techniques for symptom mitigation and neurorehabilitation of MS patients. In this review, we provide an overview of the available neuromodulatory techniques and the evidence for their use in MS.

Sacral nerve stimulation versus percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) and sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) are both second-line treatments for faecal incontinence (FI). To compare the clinical outcomes and effectiveness of SNS versus PTNS for treating FI in adults.

METHOD

A literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, Science Citation Index Expanded and Cochrane was performed in order to identify studies comparing SNS and PTNS for treating FI. A risk of bias assessment was performed using The Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. A random effects model was used for the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Four studies (one randomised controlled trial and three nonrandomised prospective studies) reported on 302 patients: 109 underwent SNS and 193 underwent PTNS. All included studies noted an improvement in symptoms after treatment, without any significant difference in efficacy between SNS and PTNS. Meta-analysis demonstrated that the Wexner score improved significantly with SNS compared to PTNS (weighted mean difference 2.27; 95% confidence interval 3.42, 1.12; P < 0.01). Moreover, SNS was also associated with a significant reduction in FI episodes per week and a greater improvement in the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life coping and depression domains, compared to PTNS on short-term follow-up. Only two studies reported on adverse events, reporting no serious adverse events with neither SNS nor PTNS.

CONCLUSION

Current evidence suggests that SNS results in significantly improved functional outcomes and quality of life compared to PTNS. No serious adverse events were identified with either treatment. Further, high-quality, multi-centre randomised controlled trials with standardised outcome measures and long-term follow-up are required in this field.

Electrophysiological Basis of Fecal Incontinence and Its Implications for Treatment

The majority of patients with neuropathic incontinence and other pelvic floor conditions associated with straining at stool have damage to the pudendal nerves distal to the ischial spine. Sacral nerve stimulation appears to be a promising innovation and has been widely adopted and currently considered the standard of care for adults with moderate to severe fecal incontinence and following failed sphincter repair. From a decision-to-treat perspective, the short-term efficacy is good (70%-80%), but the long-term efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation is around 50%. Newer electrophysiological tests and improved anal endosonography would more effectively guide clinical decision making.

Neurophysiology and neural engineering: a review

Neurophysiology is the branch of physiology concerned with understanding the function of neural systems. Neural engineering (also known as neuroengineering) is a discipline within biomedical engineering that uses engineering techniques to understand, repair, replace, enhance, or otherwise exploit the properties and functions of neural systems. In most cases neural engineering involves the development of an interface between electronic devices and living neural tissue. This review describes the origins of neural engineering, the explosive development of methods and devices commencing in the late 1950s, and the present-day devices that have resulted. The barriers to interfacing electronic devices with living neural tissues are many and varied, and consequently there have been numerous stops and starts along the way. Representative examples are discussed. None of this could have happened without a basic understanding of the relevant neurophysiology. I also consider examples of how neural engineering is repaying the debt to basic neurophysiology with new knowledge and insight.