Ján Švihra, Martin Benčo, Róbert Dušenka, Ján Ľupták, Ján Kliment
Objective: Sacral neuromodulation for dysfunctions of the lower urinary tract has been launched in 1990 worldwide;
in Slovakia the neuromodulation was launched in 2013. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of the treatment
of chronic urinary retention (CUR) by distigmine, clean intermittent autocatheterisation (CIC) and sacral neuromodulation
Interstate II (SNM).
Material a methods: The study included patients older than 18 years of age with the chronic urinary retention, maximum
urinary flow of less than 15 ml/s, residual urine > 150 ml; treated with distigmine, CIC or SNM. Women with neurological,
cancer or metabolic diseases, subvesical obstruction, urolithiasis, renal insufficiency, radiotherapy, surgical
treatment were excluded from the study. Patients were followed up and examined every 6 months with a voiding diary
and urodynamic studies.
Results: 951 women with dysfunction of the lower urinary tract were examined from the year 2008 to 2014. The study
enrolled 23 women (2.4 %). Mean age was 51 years (range 26-59). The distigmine group (n = 11) with the daily urinary
frequency of 13 (9-18) vs. the CIC group (n = 12) was 6 (4-11), the mean voided volume of 120 ml (70-180) vs. 70 ml
(40-120), residual urinary volume 171 ml (150-220) vs 395 ml (200-600). Efficiency of bladder emptying was evaluated
after years of treatment and it did not reach a significant change (distigmine group of 40 vs. 44 %; CIC group 16 vs. 15 %).
SNM therapy was performed in 8 cases after unsuccessful CIC. All patients reached a reduction in CIC from 5 (range
4-6) to 1 (range 1-2), and increased the micturition volume from 70 ml (0-80) to 180 ml (150-270). Implantation of the
pacing electrode was 6 times on the right side and 2 times on the left side to the S3 root. The stimulation was positive
in the first place vs. second vs. third vs. fourth electrode in 5 vs 4 vs 5 vs 7 cases. The stimulation amplitude was 1.5 V
(0.6 to 3.3 V), 30 Hz frequency (5-31 Hz), the length of stimulation was 210 us.
Conclusion: Treatment of chronic urinary retention in women is not adequately effective with the use of distigmine,
CIC represents the standard treatment. However, implantation of Interstate II significantly alleviates the difficulties.