Posterior tibial nerve stimulation twice a week in patients with Interstitial Cystitis

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of intermittent percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation twice a week in Chinese female patients with interstitial cystitis. METHODS A total of 18 female patients, mean age 60 years, with the main complaints of suprapubic or perineal pain and urinary frequency/urgency symptoms, were enrolled in a prospective open study, in which they underwent a 30-minute sessions twice a week, for a total of 10 times, of percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation. The average duration of symptoms was 3.4 years. The response to the treatment was assessed using a voiding diary, visual analog scale diary for pain, and the Interstitial Cystitis Problem lndex, O'Leary/Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index, and the 36-item short-form health survey quality-of-life questionnaire. At the end of treatment, the patients were allowed to evaluate the trial with a grade of no effect, some effect, and significant effect. RESULTS All patients completed the 10 sessions of treatment with no complications. No statistically significant improvement was found on the visual analog scale pain indexes, except for nighttime bladder volume, Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index, O'Leary/Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index, and health status scales scores on the 36-item short-form health survey. Of the 18 patients, 8 patients, who evaluated the trial as having had some effect, had more significant improvement statistically in bladder volume than did the other 10 patients, who evaluated the trial as having had no effect. The other diary index and 36-item short-form health survey scores were not significantly different between the two groups nor before and after treatment. CONCLUSIONS Intermittent percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation might be an alternative treatment for patients with interstitial cystitis symptoms.