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Sacral nerve stimulation can help young patients’ bowel, bladder control
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Researchers have found that sacral nerve stimulation, or sacral neuromodulation, can help pediatric patients who have difficulty controlling their bowels or bladder.
A device can be implanted that addresses communication problems between the brain and the nerves that control bowel and bladder function, according to a press release from Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
“The implanted device delivers mild electrical impulses to the pelvic nerves,” Steven Teich, MD, director of the Surgical Neuromodulation Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, said in the press release. “The pelvic nerves then begin to tell the muscles when to contract, ultimately helping control the ability to urinate or have a bowel movement.”
A test phase is the first portion of the therapy, which involves temporary placement of an electrical stimulator. If the patient reacts well to the temporary device, a permanent device will later be implanted for the therapy.
Sacral nerve stimulation is only considered for patients who meet specific criteria, and only after traditional treatment methods have been explored, according to the release.
“Our success rate so far has been that 90% of the kids are completely better and can function without washouts or catheters,” Teich said in the release.