Sacral nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence - efficacy confirmed from a two-centre prospectively maintained database.

INTRODUCTION

Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) has been recognised as an effective treatment for faecal incontinence. Many unresolved questions could be answered when comparing large data-series from different centres providing prospective data.

AIM: To present data, from an international two-centre SNS prospective database (SNSPD) on functional outcome and management of surgical complications in patients treated with SNS for faecal incontinence.

METHOD: The SNSPD was designed in order to gather detailed pre- and perioperative information followed by a close follow-up in all patients undergoing SNS for bowel dysfunction. The SNSPD was open for inclusion of newly SNS implanted patients in May 2009, and closed on 31 December 2013. Two-centres Aarhus, Denmark, and Nantes, France, included and monitored all patients implanted due to bowel dysfunction according to database criteria.

RESULTS

In total, 164 faecal incontinent patients with a median follow-up of 22 (range 1-50) months were implanted. The Wexner incontinence score improved from 15 (range, 3-20) at baseline to 9 (range, 0-20) at latest follow-up (P < 0.001) and VAS impact on daily life improved from 85.5 (range, 3-100) to 20 (range, 0-100) (P < 0.001). Additional surgical intervention was required in 19.5 % during follow-up. Repositioning of the pacemaker due to pain or migration was the most common complication in 12.1 %. Infections leading to explantation occurred in 3.0 %.