Table 1.
Literature reviewing the clinical and urodynamic effects of TENS during long-term application.
| Reference | Diagnosis/patients characteristics | n | Site | Stimulus pulse parameters |
Scheme of treatment | Clinical improvement (% of patients) | Urodynamic assessment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Pulse duration | Intensity | |||||||
| McGuire et al., 1983 [16] | MS, SCI, detrusor instability, IC | 22 | PTN/common peroneal nerve | – | – | – | – | 80% became dry or improved after the treatment | – |
| Hasan et al., 1996 [12] | IDO | 59 | S2–S3 dermatomes, perianal | 50 Hz | 200 μs | Tickling sensation | 2–4 w, 2 groups | 69% urge incontinence, 73% enuresis, 37% urinary frequency (all defined as 50% benefit) | MCC. voided volume, no. of unstable contractions significantly improved |
| Okada et al., 1998 [26] | DH, IDI | 19 | Thigh region | 30 Hz, pattern | 200 μs | Max. below pain | 2 w, 1/d, 20 min | 32% in urinary incontinence and frequency | 11/19 patients MCC increase of more than 50% |
| Walsh et al., 1999 [13] | Refractory IVD | 32 | S3 dermatomes | 10 Hz | 200 μs | – | 1 w, 1/d, 12 h a day | 76% in frequency, 56% reduction in nocturia, urgency symptom score on VAS not significantly improved | – |
| Skeil et al., 2001 [15] | Neurological | 34 | Sacral dermatomes | 20 Hz | 200 μs | Comfortable level | 6 w, 2/day, 90 min | Significant improvement in incontinence episodes and frequency | Not significantly changed |
| Soomro et al., 2001 [14] | IDI | 43 | S3 dermatomes | 20 Hz | 200 μs | Tickling sensation | 6 w/up to 360 min daily crossover | 56% improved by more than 25% in number of daily voids | Not significantly changed in the stimulation study arm |
| Svihra et al., 2002 [17] | OAB | 28 | PTN | 1 Hz | 100 μs | 70% of motor response | 5 s,1/w, 30 min, 3 groups, control | 56% in questionnaires score, control group no sign diff. | – |
| Yokozuka et al., 2004 [11] | Neurogenic, unstable bladder, nocturia | 18 | Sacral S2–S4 dermatomes | 20 Hz 10 s on 5 s off | 300 μs | Anal sphincter contr. | 4 w, 2/day, 15 min | 55% improved in UUI and frequency | 44% increased MCC and inhibited contraction |
| Bellette et al., 2009 [20] | Non neurogenic OAB, women | 37 | PTN | – | – | – | 8 s, 2/w, sham group | Frequency and urgency improved significantly in both groups | – |
| Schreiner et al., 2010 [18] | UUI, elderly women | 51 | PTN | 10 Hz | 200 μs | Some motor response | 12 s, 1/w, 30 min, control | UUI improved significantly in 76% vs. 26.9% patients in the control group | – |
| de Seze et al., 2011 [19] | MS | 70 | PTN | 10 Hz | 200 μs | Below motor response | 3 m, 1/day, 20 min | 83.3% improved in urgency based on warning time, the urgency MHU subscale and frequency | Total no. of detrusor overactivity patients (86%) significantly decreased to 73% |
| Booth et al., 2013 [45] | Bladder/Bowel dysfunction, elderly | 30 | PTN | 10 Hz | 200 μs | Comfort level | 12 s, 2/w, 30 min, sham group | Frequency: 74% vs. 42% in the sham Urgency: 74% vs. 31% in the sham Incontinence: 47% vs. 15% in the sham |
– |
DH, detrusor hyperreflexia; IC, interstitial cystitis; IDI, idiopathic detrusor instability; IDO, idiopathic detrusor overactivity; IVD, irritative voiding dysfunction; MCC, maximum of cystometry capacity; MHU, Mesure du Handicap Urinaire; MS, multiple sclerosis; OAB, overactive bladder; PTN, posterior tibial nerve; SCI, spinal cord injury; SU, sensory urgency; UUI, urge urinary incontinence.