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Consideration of the potential courses of the common iliac artery.

We encountered a rare case of the left common iliac artery in a 92-year-old Japanese female cadaver during dissection practice for medical students. The artery entered into the small pelvis without branching to the external iliac artery. There, it went down slightly medially and then turned laterally and passed behind the first sacral nerve. The artery ran anterolaterally further and returned to the greater pelvis and became the external iliac artery, which continued to the femoral artery as usual. During the course in the small pelvis, the artery branched to give rise to each branch of the internal iliac artery. We speculate that in the present case, a communication between the median sacral artery and the superior gluteal artery, passing behind the first sacral nerve, enlarged and compensated the usual common iliac artery.

Aged↗

Effect of sacral neuromodulation for faecal incontinence on sexual activity.

INTRODUCTION: Faecal incontinence affects a percentage of the population and can have a significant effect on their ability to establish and maintain sexual relations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen consecutive patients with permanent sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for faecal incontinence completed a 'Sex Life Questionnaire' at their follow up visit to ascertain whether there was any improvement in this aspect of their life. RESULTS: Nine of the sixteen patients was sexually active. These nine patients (median age 56 (35-61) years) had a significant reduction in faecal incontinence episodes per week from a median of 12 (1-55) to 1.5 (0-8.5) (P = 0.008). All nine patients reported that their sex life had been affected by feacal incontinence prior to SNM and seven had felt benefit from implantation. The median improvement in their sex life was 40% (1-100) and the percentage improvement was inversely correlated to age (r = -0.834, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: SNM improves the quality of sexual activity in 78% of patients. More improvement seems to be gained the younger the patients.

Adult↗

Sacral neuromodulation; does it affect colonic transit time in patients with faecal incontinence?

OBJECTIVE: Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) has been a successful treatment in urinary voiding disorders for years. A concomitant effect on bowel function was observed leading to the treatment of faecal incontinence with SNM. In this study we describe the effect of SNM on bowel frequency and (segmental) colonic transit time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with faecal incontinence who qualified for permanent SNM underwent a colon transit study before and one month after permanent implant. Patients completed a three-week bowel habits diary before and during stimulation. RESULTS: Median incontinence episodes and days per week before SNM were, 8.7 and 4.2, respectively, and both decreased significantly to 0.67 (P = 0001) and 0.5 (P = 0001) during trial screening and to 0.33 (P = 0001) and 0.33 (P = 0001) after permanent implant. The median number of bowel movements per week decreased from 14.7 (6.7-41.7) to 10.0 (3.7-22.7)(P = 0005) during trial screening and to 10.0 (6.0-24.3)(P = 0008) during permanent stimulation. Resting and squeeze pressures did not change significantly during stimulation. Segmental colonic transit time before and during stimulation for right colon, left colon and recto sigmoid were, respectively, 6 (0-25) vs 5 (0-16) hours, 2 (0-29) vs 4 (0-45) hours and 7 (28) vs 8 (0-23) hours. No significant changes were found in both segmental and total colonic transit time; 17 (1-65) vs 25 (0-67) hours. CONCLUSION: SNM in patients with fecal incontinence led to a significant decrease of bowel movements however (segmental) colonic transit time was not influenced.

Adult↗

Sacral nerve stimulation induces pan-colonic propagating pressure waves and increases defecation frequency in patients with slow-transit constipation.

OBJECTIVE: Colonic propagating sequences are important for normal colonic transit and defecation. The frequency of these motor patterns is reduced in slow-transit constipation. Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) is a useful treatment for fecal and urinary incontinence. A high proportion of these patients have also reported altered bowel function. The effects of SNS on colonic propagating sequences in constipation are unknown. Our aims were to evaluate the effect of SNS on colonic pressure patterns and evaluate its therapeutic potential in severe constipation. METHOD: In eight patients with scintigraphically confirmed slow-transit constipation, a manometry catheter (16 recording sites at 7.5 cm intervals) was positioned colonoscopically and the tip fixed in the caecum. Temporary electrodes (Medtronic) were implanted in the S2 and S3 sacral nerve foramina under general anaesthesia. In the fasted state, 14 Hz stimulation was administered and four sets of parameters (pulse width 300 or 400 micros; S2 and S3) were tested in four 2-h epochs, in random order, over 2 days. Patients were then discharged home with the sacral wires in situ and a 3-week trial stimulation commenced during which patients completed a daily stool diary. RESULTS: When compared with basal activity, electrical stimulation to S3 significantly increased pan-colonic antegrade propagating sequence (PS) frequency (5.4 +/- 4.2 vs 11.3 +/- 6.6 PS/h; P=0.01). Stimulation at S2 significantly increased retrograde PSs (basal 2.6 +/- 1.8 vs SNS 5.6 +/- 4.8 PS/h; P=0.03). During the subsequent three-week trial (continuous stimulation), six of eight reported increased bowel frequency with a reduction in laxative usage. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that SNS induces pan-colonic propagating pressure waves and therefore shows promise as a potential therapy for severe refractory constipation.

Adult↗

The real bladder electromyogram.

The nature of bladder electrical activity was investigated in anaesthetised cats and 1 baboon. A time-locked muscle response to sacral ventral root stimulation was most clearly detected within a 10-40 Hz frequency band, the response preceding the rise in intravesical pressure. During reflex voiding only activity in the 10-40 Hz band was consistently related to reflex voiding and to the small contractions leading up to voiding. It is concluded that only a very limited part of the wide band electrical activity recorded from the bladder can be considered genuine electromyogram and that the 10-40 Hz frequency band probably excludes the worst of the artefact. Possible sources of artefact and their relation to changes in intravesical pressure are presented in Table I.

Animals↗

Long-term follow-up of selective sacral neurectomy.

Between 1976 and 1981, 22 patients underwent selective, complete sacral root section as a treatment for severe detrusor overactivity. Eighteen were followed up for more than 4 years (mean 6.2). Thirteen of the 22 patients had significant symptomatic improvement lasting for more than 4 years post-operatively (59%), 8 of whom had stable bladders. It was concluded that this operation still has a place in the treatment of detrusor overactivity.

Adolescent↗

Sacral neuromodulation decreases narcotic requirements in refractory interstitial cystitis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of long-term sacral neuromodulation (InterStim(R), Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN) in treating chronic pelvic pain associated with interstitial cystitis (IC, a symptom complex of urinary urgency, frequency and pelvic pain, often necessitating narcotics) refractory to standard therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients (17 female, four male, mean age 45.5 years, range 17-68) with refractory IC with chronic pelvic pain were reviewed retrospectively. In these patients a mean of six previous treatments for IC had failed. All patients had had cystoscopy and hydrodistension to confirm their diagnoses. All had a permanent InterStim device implanted by one surgeon (K.M.P.) between 2000 and 2002, after responding to a temporary test. Data were collected from chart reviews and patient questionnaires. Intramuscular morphine dose equivalents (MDEs) were calculated before and after implantation. RESULTS: All 21 patients responded to the questionnaire; the mean (range) follow-up after implantation was 15.4 (7.4-23.1) months. Eighteen patients used chronic narcotics before the InterStim and 20 reported moderate or marked improvement in pain afterward. The mean MDE decreased from 81.6 to 52.0 mg/day (36%) after implantation (P = 0.015). Four of 18 patients stopped all narcotics after InterStim implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Sacral neuromodulation decreases narcotic requirements and subjective pelvic pain in patients with refractory IC. Further decreases in MDE are anticipated as dose reductions continue in patients who improved.

Adolescent↗

A rat model for studying effects of sacral neuromodulation on the contractile activity of a chronically inflamed bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an animal model in which the effects of electrical stimulation of the sacral nerves (sacral neuromodulation) on a chronic hyperactive urinary bladder can be studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In female rats the urinary bladder was instilled with mustard oil (0.4%); after 10 days the animals were anaesthetized with intraperitoneal urethane, the bladder catheterized and connected to a pressure transducer. Stimulating electrodes were placed into the sacral foramina bilaterally. The intensity and duration of sacral electrical stimulation was varied systematically to determine the effects of the sacral neuromodulation on bladder contractions. RESULTS: The main effect of the neuromodulation was an increase in the interval between contractions, i.e. during and for some time after the stimulation the contractions were completely abolished. The duration of the pause increased with the intensity and duration of stimulation. After the contractions had reappeared the frequency of contractions was reduced for a long period. In animals with chronic cystitis the effects of neuromodulation tended to be stronger (the pauses were longer) than in control animals with an intact bladder, but only in one test (increase of pause length with stimulus duration) was the difference statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that this animal model is suitable for studying the effects and mechanisms of sacral neuromodulation on a chronic hyperactive urinary bladder.

Animals↗

Long-term results of sacral neuromodulation for women with urinary retention.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE ; To review the long-term results of sacral nerve stimulation in the treatment of women with Fowler's syndrome, over a 6-year period at one tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2002, 26 women with urinary retention were treated by implanting a sacral nerve stimulator. Their case records were reviewed for follow-up, complications and revision procedures, and the most recent uroflowmetry results. RESULTS: There were 20 patients (77%) still voiding spontaneously at the time of review (with two having deactivated their stimulator because of pregnancy). Fourteen patients (54%) required revision surgery, and the most common complications included loss of efficacy, implant-related discomfort and leg pain. The mean postvoid residual volume was 75 mL and mean maximum flow rate 20.8 mL/s. CONCLUSION: In young women with retention, for whom there is still no alternative to lifelong self-catheterization, sacral neuromodulation is effective for up to 5 years after implantation. However, there was a significant complication rate, in line with other reports, which may be improved by new technical developments.

Adult↗

Objective measurement of bladder sensation: use of a new patient-activated device and response to neuromodulation.

Detrusor overactivity is the primary objective focus of most investigations into the diagnosis and management of patients with urgency incontinence. Patients with an overactive bladder are characteristically troubled by subjective sensations of bladder fullness and urinary urgency, and frequently void at low bladder volumes attained before noticeable detrusor overactivity occurs. Bladder sensations are therefore crucial to understanding voiding patterns and symptoms, but little progress has been made in objectively describing the range of these sensations, and adequate information is lacking about their response to neuromodulation. Towards this end, a keypad 'urge score' device was designed to measure sensations during bladder filling. This patient-activated device gathers information about patient perceptions of bladder filling and the successive stages of increasing bladder sensation, without prompting or intervention by the investigator. The accuracy of the 'urge keypad' during filling cystometrography was validated in patients with urgency incontinence, and compared with data abstracted from patient voiding diaries. The device provides reliable and repeatable measures of different bladder sensations, with excellent, statistically significant consistency between bladder volumes and corresponding levels of sensation. Subsequently, it was shown that the sensation of urgency can be suppressed by neuromodulation in most patients tested; this suppression occurs with improvements in bladder capacity and voided volumes. It is therefore suggested that urodynamics with concurrent sensory evaluation may offer a more useful assessment tool for selecting those patients for therapies such as neuromodulation who present predominantly with the symptom of urgency.

Adult↗

Interaction between neurotransmitter antagonists and effects of sacral neuromodulation in rats with chronically hyperactive bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate to what extent antagonists of spinal neurotransmitters interact with the effects of sacral neuromodulation in a rat model of a chronically hyperactive urinary bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In female rats the urinary bladder was instilled with turpentine oil 2.5% to induce cystitis. After surviving for 10 days the rats were anaesthetized with urethane, the bladder catheterized and connected to a pressure transducer. Stimulating electrodes were placed in the sacral foramina bilaterally. The spinal cord was exposed by a laminectomy, and a small pool was placed on the cord for intrathecal administration of neurotransmitter antagonists. Sacral neuromodulation was applied before and after administering the antagonists. The antagonists used were: memantine, an antagonist for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors; CNQX, an antagonist for non-NMDA receptors, and L-NAPNA, a blocker of nitric oxide synthase. RESULTS: With no electrical neuromodulation, memantine and L-NAPNA abolished the cystitis-induced bladder contractions for approximately 4 and approximately 37 min, respectively. The effect of CNQX was similar to that of artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Electrical sacral modulation with no antagonists also transiently abolished the bladder contractions; at the highest intensity used, the pause was 2-3 min. Superfusion of the spinal cord with CNQX reduced this effect of neuromodulation significantly, whereas memantine had no influence, and L-NAPNA increased the neuromodulation-induced pause. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that non-NMDA receptors are involved in the effects of sacral neuromodulation, whereas NMDA receptors appear to have no role. Nitric oxide is essential for maintaining the chronic hyperactive state of the urinary bladder.

6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione↗

L6-S1 spinal nerve stimulation reduces micturition frequency in anaesthetized rats with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis.

OBJECTIVE: To further investigate the rationale for using spinal nerve stimulation (SNS) for treating bladder overactivity associated with cystitis in a rat model of cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis, as several studies suggested that symptoms associated with chronic cystitis could be treated using stimulation of sacral spinal nerves, but the mechanisms by which it works are unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cystitis was induced by i.p. injection of cyclophosphamide 48 h before the experiments in anaesthetized male rats. Neurograms were taken by placing a recording electrode onto the pelvic nerve and a stimulating electrode on either the L6 or S1 ipsilateral spinal nerves. Two selected intensities were then evaluated for SNS in control and cyclophosphamide-treated rats during cystometry. RESULTS: Cyclophosphamide resulted in significant bladder overactivity. There was no apparent difference in the neurograms generated in response to SNS of the S1 and L6 spinal nerves, and between cyclophosphamide and control rats. Intensities of 200 microA (Adelta-fibre-specific) and 2 mA (Adelta+ C-fibres) were chosen for SNS. Continuous SNS at 200 microA significantly reduced the frequency of voiding and non-voiding contractions in cyclophosphamide-treated rats. SNS at 2 mA resulted in the abolition of voiding contractions, accompanied by continuous leakage of urine. CONCLUSION: SNS recruiting only Adelta-fibre produced fewer voiding contractions in cyclophosphamide-treated rats, to a level similar to that from the control rats. These results support the ability of SNS to decrease bladder overactivity in a pathophysiological model of chemical irritation of the bladder.

Animals↗

Urinary retention in women: its causes and management.

OBJECTIVE: To report the experience of the last 4 years from a centre to which women with voiding difficulties and urinary retention were referred nationally, describing what investigations were helpful in making a diagnosis and the management strategies used. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women with voiding difficulties and urinary retention remain a diagnostic and management challenge, and those with no anatomical or neurological basis for their symptoms may be dismissed, assuming that their retention has a psychogenic basis. The finding of an electromyographic (EMG) abnormality of the striated urethral sphincter explaining their disorder (Fowler's syndrome) has led to the referral of women for consideration of that diagnosis. Thus we audited the referrals to the centre over a 4-year period of such women. RESULTS: In all, 247 women (mean age 35 years) with complete (42%) or partial retention (58%) were referred; 175 (71%) had urethral pressure profilometry, 141 (57%) had a transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of the sphincter volume, and 95 (39%) had sphincter EMG. The mean maximum urethral closure pressure difference between patients with an EMG abnormality (101.5 cmH(2)O) and the patients with known other causes of voiding dysfunction (66.2 cmH(2)O) was 35.3 cmH(2)O (P < 0.05). In patients with complete retention there was a significant difference in sphincter volume between those who were EMG-positive (2.14 mL) or EMG-negative (1.64 mL) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These investigations helped to classify the cause of retention in two-thirds of cases. The commonest diagnosis was Fowler's syndrome, in which sacral nerve stimulation is the only intervention that restores voiding.

Adolescent↗

Medium-term experience of sacral neuromodulation by tined lead implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe patient selection for sacral neuromodulation, also known as Interstim therapy, and the results of tined-lead implantation in the medium term. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 49 patients, 39 with refractory overactive bladder symptoms and 10 with urinary retention, were implanted with the tined lead under local anaesthesia. The mean (sd) test period was 12.4 (5.8) days. Patients were implanted when they had a > or = 50% improvement in voiding diary variables during the test period. The mean follow-up for implanted patients was 15.5 (7.9) months. Changes in voiding variables were compared using a t-test. RESULTS: Ten patients had a one-stage and 39 a two-stage implant; of the latter group, 31 (80%) had a positive response and eight (21%) did not. In all, 31 patients were included in the follow-up. At the last follow-up, 28 (90%) patients had a >50% improvement in diary variables and three (10%) did not. In 21 patients with urgency symptoms the mean (sd) number of voids decreased from 11.7 (8.9)/day at baseline to 7.3 (3.4)/day (P = 0.1); the voided volume increased from 160.2 (70.7) mL to 231.1 (119.5) mL (P = 0.001); and the number of leakages decreased from 9.5 (8.7) to 3.3 (2.2)/day (P = 0.17). In the 10 patients with retention, the number of catheterizations decreased from 5.44 (1.6)/day with a volume of 297.6 (76.8) mL, to 1.2 (1.7)/day and 111.6 (158.1) mL; the mean number of voids increased from 3.7 (3.8)/day with a volume of 123.3 (141.7) mL, to 4.2 (2.4)/day and 248.3 (146.0)mL. There were no significant differences in the variables in the patients with retention. Seven patients had an adverse event. There was one incomplete electrode migration that was treated conservatively. CONCLUSION: This new minimally invasive approach gives positive results in the medium term. Two-stage testing with the tined lead seems more reliable than the classic percutaneous nerve evaluation. The lead anchoring method seems sufficient for fixing the electrode in the medium term.

Adolescent↗

Different brain effects during chronic and acute sacral neuromodulation in urge incontinent patients with implanted neurostimulators.

OBJECTIVE: To compare changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), using positron emission tomography (PET), during chronic and acute sacral neuromodulation (SN). SN is an effective long-term treatment for chronic urge incontinence due to urinary bladder hyperactivity, as sensory nerves, spinal and supraspinal structures are probably responsible for the action of SN. It is not known which brain areas are involved, and the optimum benefit of SN is not immediate, suggesting that induced plasticity of the brain is necessary. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Brain activity was measured in two groups: 12 urge incontinent patients (11 women and one man; mean age 52 years) in whom an implanted unilateral S3 nerve neurostimulator had been effective for >6 months (mean time after implantation 4.5 years); and eight urge incontinent patients (seven women and one man; mean age 49 years) in whom the neurostimulator was activated for the first time in the PET scanner. RESULTS: During SN in chronically implanted patients, there were significant decreases in rCBF in the middle part of the cingulate gyrus, the ventromedial orbitofrontal cortex, midbrain and adjacent midline thalamus, and rCBF increases in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. During acute SN in newly implanted patients, there were significant decreases in rCBF the medial cerebellum, and increases in the right postcentral gyrus cortex, the right insular cortex and the ventromedial orbitofrontal cortex. Group analysis between chronic and newly implanted patients showed significant differences in the associative sensory cortex, premotor cortex and the cerebellum, all three involved in learning behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggests that chronic SN influences, presumably via the spinal cord, brain areas previously implicated in detrusor hyperactivity, awareness of bladder filling, the urge to void and the timing of micturition. Furthermore, SN affects areas involved in alertness and awareness. Acute SN modulates predominantly areas involved in sensorimotor learning, which might become less active during the course of chronic SN.

Acute Disease↗