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Updated: Jul 25, 2026
Breathing-controlled Electrical Stimulation BreEStim for Management of Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity
Published on: January 10, 2013
Efficacy of sacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in patients with overactive bladder refractory to
M Coronas Soucheiron1, I Casal Beloy2, F N Villalón Ferrero3
1Pediatric Surgery Department. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu. Barcelona (Spain).
Objective:
To determine whether sacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (S-TENS) is an effective treatment in patients refractory to anticholinergic drugs (Achs).
Materials And Methods:
A prospective multi-center study of patients with overactive bladder (OB) refractory to Achs treated with S-TENS from 2018 to 2021 was carried out. S-TENS was applied over 3 months. Symptom progression was assessed using the voiding calendar and the Pediatric Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Score (PLUTSS), excluding questions 3 and 4 -referring to enuresis- so that progression of daytime symptoms only (LUTS variable) was analyzed.
Results:
66 patients -50% of whom were female- were included, with a mean age of 9.5 years (range: 5-15). S-TENS significantly lowered PLUTSS (19.1 baseline vs. 9.5 final, p< 0.001) and LUTS (13.1 baseline vs. 4.8 final, p< 0.001). It also reduced the number of mictions (8.5 baseline vs. 6.4 final, p< 0.001), while increasing urine volume in the voiding records (214 ml baseline vs. 258 ml final, p< 0.001). Enuresis was the only variable refractory to S-TENS. Complication rate was 3% (2 patients with dermatitis in the S-TENS application area).
Conclusions:
S-TENS is effective and safe in the short-term in patients with OB refractory to Achs. Further studies assessing long-term efficacy and potential relapses are required.
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