Patient satisfaction and complications following sacral nerve stimulation for urinary retention, urge incontinence and perineal pain: a multicenter evaluation.

The aim of the study was to determine the success rate, the complications, the failures and the solutions found in troublesome cases. A retrospective study was performed in three university centers in Belgium. Between March 1994 and April 1998, a quadripolar electrode and a pulse generator were implanted in 53 patients (8 men, 45 women, 43 +/- 12 years, mean follow-up 24 +/- 8 months, range 13-39 months). During the first few months, 45 (85%) of the 53 patients had an objective response. Eight late failures occurred, with a mean failure delay of 9 +/- 5 months. We performed 15 revisions in 12 patients. Major complications were pain and current-related troubles. The outcome was significantly better (P = 0.001) in post-stress incontinence surgery patients. Device-related pain was found more frequently in patients with dysuria and/or retention or perineal pain, and the test stimulation was less reliable (P = 0.025) in patients with a psychiatric history. Sacral nerve stimulation is efficient in treating patients with refractory lower urinary tract symptoms and/or perineal pain.