Bladder Control News:

Sacral Nerve Stimulation Helps With Difficult Bladder Control Problems

A unique therapy that uses an implantable medical device should get earlier consideration as a treatment option for people with difficult-to-treat bladder control problems, according to a report the British Journal of Urology International.

A group of seven urology experts from the United States and Europe concluded that sacral nerve stimulation, or InterStim® Therapy for Urinary Control from Medtronic, Inc., is emerging as the standard of care for the management of intractable cases of overactive bladder and nonobstructive urinary retention.

The sacral nerves, located in the lower back, influence bladder function.

“If initial management of overactive bladder or retention with conservative measures, including drugs, behavioral modification and exercise, don’t provide sufficient improvement, sacral nerve stimulation is the most appropriate treatment option," said Dr. Steven Siegel of the Center for Continence Care in St. Paul, MN.

Researchers reported that the majority of the people who received sacral nerve stimulation achieved a clinical benefit, defined as either no incontinence or at least a 50 percent reduction in leakage episodes.

Source: Medical Week staff, week of June 22, 2003