Treatment for refractory overactive bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of sacral neuromodulation and...

This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the outcomes between SNM and BTX in the treatment of refractory OAB.

PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL were comprehensively searched from their inception to December 2019. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials evaluating OAB patients who underwent SNM and BTX were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. The outcomes, side effects, and cost-effectiveness values of both procedures were compared in meta-analysis.

This review involved six articles (2629 patients). Specifically, three articles were based on the same trial, and the other studies were retrospective cohort studies. No significant difference was found in successful treatment between BTX and SNM at 6 months after procedures [risk ratio (RR) = 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-1.39]. BTX exhibited a significantly higher total adverse event rate than SNM through 6 months (RR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.28-1.88). Patients suffered more urinary tract infection (UTI) risk under BTX injection at the early stage (RR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.10-2.25); however, the difference in UTI events was not significant between the two groups (RR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.10-2.25) during the period of 7-12 months postoperatively. Obviously, the short-term cost (1-2 years) of BTX was significantly lower than that of the SNM procedure.

Both treatments were effective; however, because of the high complication rate of BTX, it may not be a better way to treat refractory OAB than SNM, although BTX is more cost-effective for short-term treatment at present.