A shortened 6-week protocol of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) can effectively treat refractory nonneurogenic overactive bladder (OAB), according to data presented at the European Association of Urology 2020 virtual congress.
Ahmed M. Lashin, MD, and colleagues of Mansoura University in Mansoura, Egypt, randomly assigned 50 patients to receive 6 weekly PTNS treatments or sham therapy. Fifty-two percent of the PTNS group reported significant, moderately improved symptom scores after week 7 and months 3 and 6, compared with no patients in the sham therapy group. According to voiding diaries at 6 weeks, PTNS patients had significant improvements in frequency, voided volume, and urgency urinary incontinence episodes compared with sham therapy. No serious device-related adverse events or malfunctions were reported.
“The duration of treatment with PTNS can be halved compared to the conventional 12 weeks, which would make it more acceptable and cost effective for patients,” according to Dr Lashin’s team.
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Reference
Lashin AM, El-Tabey NA, Wadie BS. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation versus sham efficacy in the treatment of refractory overactive bladder: outcomes following a shortened 6-week protocol, a prospective randomized controlled trial. Eur Urol Open Sci 19(2):e805. Presented at: EAU20 Virtual Congress; July 17 to 19, 2020. Poster 522.
