OBJECTIVE: To investigate the responder rate for overactive bladder (OAB) and non-obstructive urinary retention (NOUR) patients treated with PTNS to assess the probability of obtaining positive results in a single patient.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of database containing patients treated by means of PTNS; 178 OAB patients; 78 NOUR patients. All patients had been previously treated with conventional treatments (drugs, behavioral therapy, rehabilitation protocols) with unsatisfactory results. The PTNS treatment protocol consisted of 10-12, 30-minute sessions performed according to the technique described by Vandoninck. OAB responders were considered to be those with >50% reduction micturitions episodes. NOUR responders were considered to be those with a >50% reduction of the total catheterized volume/day. Results were obtained using voiding diaries and group comparisons.
RESULTS: 145 of 256 patients (57%) responded. A statistically significant difference between sex with regard to responders rate was observed, with 66% of women and only 45% of men considered responders (p=0.01). Female NOUR patients were most prone to respond (75.8%), followed by OAB dry patients (70.1%) and OAB wet (62.8%). In each of these conditions, male patients were statistically less prone to be treated with success with a responder rate of 34.2%, 54.8% and 40% respectively. All of these differences were statistically significant (p=0.001; p=0.01 and p=0.001 respectively).
CONCLUSION: PTNS is a good option for the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunctions, with a global responders rate of 57%. Responder rate is higher in female than in male patients (66% and 45% respectively) and varies according to the dysfunction presented by the patient with NOUR having the higher rate of responders in female population (75.7%) and OAB dry in the male population (54.8%).
Source: Uroplasty summary of original abstract