Refractory chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men: can transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation help?

Schneider, Marc P.; Tellenbach, Marc; Mordasini, Livio; Thalmann, George N.; Kessler, Thomas M. (2013). Refractory chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men: can transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation help? BJU international, 112(2), E159-E163. Blackwell Science 10.1111/bju.12005

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Objective

To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for treating men with refractory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).

Patients and Methods

A consecutive series of 60 men treated with TENS for refractory CPPS was evaluated prospectively at an academic tertiary referral centre.
The effects of treatment were evaluated by a pain diary and by the quality of life item of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index at baseline, after 12 weeks of TENS treatment, and at last known follow-up.
Adverse events related to TENS were also assessed.

Results

The mean (95% confidence interval, CI; range) age of the 60 men was 46.9 (43.5–50.3; 21–82) years.
TENS was successful after 12 weeks of treatment in 29 (48%) patients and a positive effect was sustained during a mean (95%, CI; range) follow-up of 43.6 (33.2–56; 6–88) months in 21 patients. After 12 weeks of TENS treatment, mean (95% CI) pain visual analogue scale decreased significantly (P < 0.001) from 6.6 (6.3–6.9) to 3.9 (3.2–4.6).
Patients' quality of life changed significantly after TENS treatment (P < 0.001). Before TENS, all 60 patients felt mostly dissatisfied (n = 17; 28%), unhappy (n = 28; 47%) or terrible (n = 15; 25%). After 12 weeks of TENS treatment, 29 (48%) patients felt mostly satisfied (n = 5), pleased (n = 18) or delighted (n = 6).
No adverse events related to TENS were noted.

Conclusion

TENS may be an effective and safe treatment for refractory CPPS in men, warranting randomized, placebo-controlled trials.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Anaesthesiology (DINA) > University Emergency Center
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Dermatology, Urology, Rheumatology, Nephrology, Osteoporosis (DURN) > Clinic of Urology

UniBE Contributor:

Tellenbach, Marc, Mordasini, Livio Marco, Thalmann, George, Kessler, Thomas M.

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1464-4096

Publisher:

Blackwell Science

Language:

English

Submitter:

Katharina Morgenegg

Date Deposited:

23 Apr 2014 10:55

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:29

Publisher DOI:

10.1111/bju.12005

Uncontrolled Keywords:

chronic pelvic pain syndrome, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.43731

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/43731

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