Analgesic efficacy of sacral neuromodulation for chronic pelvic cancer pain

Neuromodulation has provided promising results in chronic pain management. Sacral neurostimulation (SNS) is a neuromodulatory technique, where the sacral nerve roots are electrically stimulated.

Evaluate the efficacy of the trial phase to control severe cancer pain in pelvic organs.

Pilot study.

Chronic pelvic cancer pain patients were managed with morphine ≥ 60 mg daily, duloxetine 30 mg, and celecoxib 200 mg twice daily. Twenty-two adults were divided randomly into two equal groups: the SNS group (N = 11), received a sacral neurostimulator device and opioid analgesics, and the opioid group (N = 11), received increased opioid analgesics to control pain.

Visual analog scale scores were decreased in the SNS group at 24 h, 4 days, 1, and 2 weeks in SNS compared to the opioid group, medians (IQR) [4 (3-5) vs 6 (5-7), 3 (3-4) vs 5 (5-6), 3 (3-4) vs 5 (5-6), and 3 (3-3) vs 5 (4-6) P < 0.001], daily morphine consumption was reduced in the SNS group compared to the opioid group, median (IQR) [90 (60-90) mg vs 120 (120-150) mg, P < 0.001] and [30 (30-60) mg vs 150 (120-180) mg] during the first and second weeks. The SNS group had a better life quality compared to the opioid group after 2 weeks, median (IQR) was (123 (122.5-124) vs 117 (117-118.5) P < 0.001), respectively.

The SNS trial device showed effectiveness in managing severe chronic pelvic cancer pain.