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Sacral nerve stimulation in slow-transit constipation: effectiveness at 5-year follow-up

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International Journal of Colorectal Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) for treating slow-transit constipation (STC).

Method

This is a retrospective cohort analysis of the efficacy of SNS in treating patients affected by STC, who previously failed to respond to conservative therapies. Only patients free of concomitant diseases were enrolled in our study. A temporary stimulation lead was initially implanted; patients with a > 50% symptom reduction were eventually deemed eligible for a permanent implant.

Results

This study enrolled 25 patients who underwent a SNS test stimulation; 21 patients (13 women; median age 32 years) eventually got a permanent implant. The median preoperative Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score (CCCS) was 21 (16–25). Preoperative colorectal transit time recorded a median of 10 markers (7–19) retained in the colorectal tract. At 6-month postoperative follow-up, the total number of markers retained in the colorectal tract decreased to 3 (0–4). The CCCS score improved during the first postoperative year (P < 0.001), but progressively worsened over the longer term. The SF-36 questionnaire showed an improvement in all 8 scales measuring physical and psycho-emotional states; all parameters recorded into the bowel diary also improved. Overall, at 60-month follow up, the overall neuromodulator removal rate was 48%.

Conclusions

The SNS is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that we tested for treating STC. The short-term outcome was promisingly after 6 months; however, there was a declining trend beyond this interval. Thus, the long-term efficacy of SNS needs to be further assessed.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

MSdV and GB conceived and designed the study; MSdV, GB, AP, and TCM acquired data; MSdV, GB, LB, and LD interpreted data. MSdV, GB, AP, TCM, and LB drafted the manuscript. All authors have read, critically revised, and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michele Schiano di Visconte.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration, as last amended at the 64th WMA General Assembly, Fortaleza, Brazil, October 2013, or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study, formal consent by the institutional research committee is not required in Italy.

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Informed consent was obtained from all participants enrolled in this study.

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Schiano di Visconte, M., Pasquali, A., Cipolat Mis, T. et al. Sacral nerve stimulation in slow-transit constipation: effectiveness at 5-year follow-up. Int J Colorectal Dis 34, 1529–1540 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-019-03351-w

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