About Incontinence - Treatment / Management Options - Sacral Nerve Stimulation
Medical Reviewer: Carrie Carls , RN, BSN, CWOCN
Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS), also called sacral neuromodulation, involves surgical implantation of a device that sends a low-voltage electrical current to the sacral nerve (a nerve located at the base of the spine that affects the bladder, bowel, and pelvic floor) to stimulate the nerve and thus alleviate fecal and/or urinary incontinence. A hand-held programmer is used to stop the contraction of the sphincter muscles when you need to empty your bowels.
Who?
Adult patients experiencing urinary incontinence due to retention (overflow incontinence) and/or overactive bladder with urge incontinence, and individuals with fecal incontinence and/or chronic constipation who have failed other treatments and are able to operate the hand-held programmer may benefit from the stimulator. Other medical conditions may prevent safe use of the stimulator; ask your doctor if you are a candidate.
The Pros
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For fecal incontinence or chronic constipation, use of the sacral nerve stimulator may result in improvement in your ability to delay emptying your bowels, decrease the number of episodes of bowel incontinence, and improve your quality of life.
The Cons
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As with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection or complications from anesthesia or the device implanted.
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The stimulator may be affected by pacemakers for the heart, ultrasonic equipment, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), theft detectors and screening devices, and other devices.
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Although most studies on this treatment seem to have generally positive results, they are usually done on relatively small sample sizes.
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This treatment helps to manage incontinence, but doesn't cure it. If the product is removed at any point, or stops working, incontinence will still remain.
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This treatment may not make you completely dry at all times, and you still may need to wear an absorbent product.
Carrie Carls, BSN, RN, CWOCN, oversees pelvic floor retraining for urinary and fecal incontinence, performs urodynamics testing, treats painful bladder syndrome, and cares for wound and ostomy patients at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville , Illinois . Her article, “Prevalence of Stress Urinary Incontinence in High School and College Age Female Athletes in the Midwest : Implications for Practice” appeared in the Journal of Urologic Nursing, February 2007. Her abstract, “Partial Thickness Wound Resulting from Use of a Penile Clamp to Control Urinary Incontinence in a Patient with Radical Prostatectomy” was presented at the Symposium of Advanced Wound Care in 2005. She teaches content in the areas of wound, ostomy, and continence care to baccalaureate nursing students at MacMurray College , and facilitates the West Central Illinois UOAA ostomy support group.
Page last modified 26 July 2009