Premium
Transvaginal electrical stimulation in the treatment of urinary incontinence
Author(s) -
Barroso J.C.V.,
Ramos J.G.L.,
MartinsCosta S.,
Sanches P.R.S.,
Muller A.F.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2004.04608.x
Subject(s) - urinary incontinence , stimulation , urology , functional electrical stimulation , medicine , electric stimulation therapy , urinary system
OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of transvaginal electrical stimulation (TES) in treating urinary incontinence, and to assess the clinical improvement 6 months after ending the treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a double‐blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 36 women (24 patients and 12 controls) with stress, urge or mixed urinary incontinence were chosen to use TES or placebo (identical equipment but with no electrical current). The patients had their treatment at home twice a day (20‐min sessions) for 12 weeks. They completed a voiding diary and had a urodynamic study at the beginning and end of treatment. They were clinically re‐evaluated after 6 months. RESULTS The mean time of use of TES was similar in both groups (≈ 40 h); the treatment group had a significant increase in maximum bladder capacity ( P < 0.02), a significant reduction in the total number of voids (over 24 h; P < 0.02), in the number of episodes of voiding urgency ( P < 0.001) and, importantly, in the number of episodes of urinary incontinence ( P < 0.001). At the first evaluation, after ending the treatment, 88% of the patients had a significant reduction in symptoms or went into remission. At the 6‐month re‐evaluation, a third of the patients required another therapeutic approach. CONCLUSION TES is a practical alternative with few side‐effects, and is effective for treating the main forms of female urinary incontinence.