Sacral Neuromodulation in Dual Incontinence: Ultrasound and Afferent Nerve Sensation Assessment

Summary

Women with Dual Incontinence (DI) (both Urinary Incontinence (UI) and Fecal Incontinence (FI)) often have more bothersome symptoms, quality of life impact, and sexual dysfunction than those with just UI or FI. In many situations, DI is the result of a failure of communication between the brain and the sacral nerve, which controls the bladder, bowel, and pelvic floor. The only currently available treatment with level 1 effectiveness data for the treatment of BOTH UI and FI is called Sacral Neuromodulation (SNM). Sacral Neuromodulation is a standard of care treatment that involves surgically implanting a device in to a patient's body to target communication issues between their brain and bladder/bowel. Because the exact mechanism of action of SNM remains unclear, this study aims to better understand how SNM affects the nerves of patients with DI. Patients who are already planning on undergoing SNM device implantation will be recruited to this study. Study participants will undergo Current Perception Threshold (CPT) Testing and fill out questionnaires before SNM and 3 months after their SNM treatment. CPT Testing uses mild electrical stimulation in the urethra and rectum to measure and quantify the amount of physical stimuli required for the nerves in the pelvic floor to sense a stimulus. By learning more about nerve function in patients with DI, the investigators hope to find a way to screen patients before treatment with SNM to make sure the treatment will be effective for that individual.

Conditions

• Dual Incontinence
• Fecal Incontinence
• Urinary Incontinence
• Sacral Neuromodulation

Interventions

DEVICE

Neurometer

The purpose of Current Perception Threshold (CPT) testing is to help physicians better understand how Sacral Neuromodulation affects the nerves of patients with dual incontinence. CPT Testing involves the use of a portable battery-operated machine which will stimulate the subject's nerves via an electrical stimulation. Electrodes will be placed via a catheter in to the subject's urethra and rectum, and the electrical current will be increased gradually until the subject feels the onset of tingling, buzzing, or warmth at the site of the electrode. The electrical current will then gradually decrease until no sensation of stimulation is felt. The procedure will then be repeated where the subject will be asked to hold the test button to increase the stimulus intensity above their sensory threshold (above the point where they can feel it) until the device automatically shuts off.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• American Urogynecologic Society

  collaborator OTHER

• Northwestern University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Margaret Mueller, MD · Northwestern University

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-01-31

Primary Completion

2018-11-30

Completion

2018-11-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations