Outcomes of Sacral Neuromodulation for Overactive Bladder in Octogenarian Females

Elderly women have a high incidence of refractory overactive bladder. Clinicians and elderly patients may be hesitant to consider sacral neuromodulation. We investigated outcomes of sacral neuromodulation in women 80 years old or older.

From 2000 to 2013, 24 octogenarians with overactive bladder underwent stage 1 implantation of the InterStim® sacral neuromodulation device. We defined stage 1 success as 50% or greater improvement in incontinence episodes and/or pads. Those patients underwent placement of an implantable pulse generator. The primary study outcome was the rate of stage 1 success. Secondary outcomes were the complication rate and patient reported improvement/satisfaction.

We identified 24 octogenarians with a median age of 85 years (range 80 to 89), of whom 18 (75%) experienced stage 1 success. At a mean 17-month followup (range 1 to 59) success was sustained in 13 patients (72%) and 15 (83%) were medication free. Two patients (12%) experienced complications, including urinary tract infection in 1 and pain at the implantable pulse generator site in 1, which resolved within 1 month. Three patients (17%) underwent lead revision and 2 subsequently regained success. Five of the 10 patients (50%) who returned the PGI-I questionnaire reported that their condition was very much or much improved, 3 felt a little improved and 2 reported no change. The self-reported satisfaction rate was 60%.

Octogenarian women treated with sacral neuromodulation had a high rate of stage 1 success with no major complications. Most of them reported improvement and satisfaction at a mean followup of 17 months. Advanced age alone should not preclude consideration of sacral neuromodulation as a treatment option for overactive bladder in the properly selected elderly patient.