No immediate effect on urodynamic parameters during transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in children with overactive bladder and daytime incontinence—A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study

• Published in: Neurourology and urodynamics 2017-09, Vol.36 (7), p.1788-1795
• Main Authors: Borch, Luise, Rittig, Soeren, Kamperis, Konstantinos, Mahler, Birgitte, Djurhuus, Jens Christian, Hagstroem, Soeren
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bladder; Child; Children; Daytime; Diurnal Enuresis - physiopathology; Diurnal Enuresis - therapy; Double-Blind Method; Double-blind studies; Female; Humans; Male; overactive bladder; Sacrum; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation-TENS; Treatment Outcome; Urinary bladder; Urinary Bladder, Overactive - physiopathology; Urinary Bladder, Overactive - therapy; Urinary incontinence; Urination - physiology; urodynamics; Urodynamics - physiology
• ISSN: 0733-2467; 1520-6777
• DOI: 10.1002/nau.23179

Aim To evaluate the immediate effect on natural fill urodynamic parameters and bladder function during transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in children with overactive bladder (OAB) and daytime urinary incontinence (DUI). MEethods In this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, 24 children with severe OAB and DUI (mean age 8.5 ± 1.2 years) underwent 48‐h natural fill urodynamics. After 24 h of baseline investigation, the children were randomized to either active continuous TENS (n = 12) or placebo TENS (n = 12) over the sacral S2‐S3 outflow. The urodynamic recordings were analyzed manually for three different bladder contraction patterns resulting in a void. The number of bladder contractions not leading to a void was also calculated. Maximum voided volume (MVV) and average voided volume (AVV) were identified for both the baseline and the intervention day. Results We found that TENS had no immediate objective effect on bladder capacity. The difference (before minus after treatment) in MVV/EBC in the active TENS group = 0.03 ± 0.23 versus placebo TENS group = −0.01 ± 0.10 (P = 0.61). Also, there was no significant difference in the proportion of different bladder contraction types between the two groups. TENS did not significantly influence the number of bladder contractions not leading to a void. Results are presented as mean ± SD. Conclusion There is no immediate objective effect of TENS on bladder activity assessed by natural fill urodynamics in children with OAB and DUI.