A comparative study between sacral neuromodulation and intravesical botulinum toxin injection for patients with refractory overactive bladder

ABSTRACT Objective To compare the efficacy, safety, patient compliance and quality of life (QoL) (early and at 6 months after treatment), in a group of Iraqi female patients with refractory overactive bladder (OAB), treated with intradetrusor botulinum toxin A (BTX) injections vs sacral neuromodulation (SNM). Patients and methods A prospective, clinical interventional study of 37 female patients assessed by history, physical examination, voiding diary, ultrasonography (US), and urodynamics. The patients were assigned to one of two groups: Group 1, treated with cystoscopic BTX injections; and Group 2, treated with SNM. Response to treatment was assessed by voiding diary, the Treatment Benefit Scale, a modified Quality of Life scale, urine culture, and abdominal US. Results The mean age of the patients in Group 1 (BTX) was 43.8 years and in Group 2 (SNM) was 37.2 years. OAB-wet was diagnosed in 11 patients in Group 1 and 10 in Group 2. At the 6-month follow-up there were 14/16 and 12/15 positive responders, in groups 1 and 2, respectively; with no major complications. All the responders had a significant improvement in their overall QoL after both types of treatment. Conclusions Both BTX and SNM, in our experience, were safe and effective in managing our patients with refractory OAB after 6 months of follow-up, which was also reflected by an improvement in their QoL. Abbreviations BTX: botulinum toxin A; IPG: implantable pulse generator; OAB: overactive bladder; PVR: post-void residual urine; QoL: quality of life; SNM: sacral neuromodulation; UDS, urodynamics; UI, urinary incontinenc