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Vesical pacing in patients with overactive bladder: technique and results
Ahmed Shafik1, Ismail Shafik, Olfat el-Sibai
1Department of Surgery and Experimental Research, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. shafik@ahmed-shafik.org
International Urology and Nephrology
|September 2, 2004
Summary
Vesical pacing normalized overactive bladder (OAB) electric activity and relieved symptoms in most patients. In some cases, symptoms resolved spontaneously after pacing, allowing pacemaker removal.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Overactive bladder (OAB) is characterized by dysrhythmic electric activity originating from a disordered vesical pacemaker.
- Previous research identified normalization of these waves through vesical pacing and defined optimal parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if vesical pacing improves both electric activity and symptoms in OAB patients.
- To test the hypothesis that normalizing vesical electric activity alleviates OAB symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Vesical pacing was implanted in 9 OAB patients under anesthesia.
- Pacemakers connected to electrodes in the vesical vault, with wave normalization tested.
- Home pacing programmed for intermittent activation.
Main Results:
- Vesical pacing normalized electric waves and resolved OAB symptoms in 7 out of 9 patients.
- In 3 patients, symptoms disappeared spontaneously after a few months, leading to pacemaker abandonment.
- No complications were reported during the study.
Conclusions:
- Vesical pacing successfully normalized dysrhythmic electric activity and suppressed OAB symptoms in 77.7% of patients.
- Pacemaker removal was possible in 5 patients due to successful treatment or spontaneous symptom resolution.
- Vesical pacing is a viable treatment option for refractory OAB.