Sacral nerve neuromodulation in patients with cardiac pacemakers

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe our experience using sacral nerve neuromodulation for urinary urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence in patients with cardiac pacemakers.

Study design: The study was a case series of 3 patients with cardiac pacemakers who underwent sacral nerve stimulation for refractory urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence.

Results: Each patient underwent placement of an InterStim lead wire in the S3 foramen. Intraoperative cardiac monitoring revealed no evidence of cross-interference, even at maximum stimulation. Postoperative telemetry for 24 hours did not reveal any interference from the sacral nerve stimulator. All patients had a greater than 50% reduction in incontinence episodes during their test trial and underwent placement of the InterStim implantable pulse generator (IPG). Intraoperative and postoperative IPG programming was done with cardiac monitoring; no interaction was detectable.

Conclusion: Sacral nerve stimulation appears to be safe in the presence of a cardiac pacemaker.