To evaluate the long-term efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) in children with constipation and describe patient benefit and parent satisfaction.
Using a prospective patient registry, we identified patients <21 years old with constipation treated with SNS for >2 years. We compared symptoms, medical treatment, PedsQL Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale (GSS), Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (FIQL), and Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI) before SNS and at follow-up. We contacted parents to administer the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) and a parent satisfaction questionnaire.
We included 25 children (52% male, median age 10 years): 16 had functional constipation, six anorectal malformation, two tethered spinal cord, and one Hirschsprung's disease. Defecation frequency did not change after SNS but patients reporting fecal incontinence decreased from 72% to 20% (P<.01) and urinary incontinence decreased from 56% to 28% (P=.04). Patients using laxatives decreased from 64% to 44% (ns) and patients using antegrade enemas decreased from 48% to 20% (P=.03). GSS, most FIQL domains, and FISI were improved at follow-up. Six (24%) patients had complications requiring further surgery. Of the 16 parents contacted, 15 (94%) parents indicated positive health-related benefit and all would recommend SNS to other families.
Sacral nerve stimulation is a promising and durable treatment for children with refractory constipation, and appears particularly effective in decreasing fecal incontinence. Although a quarter of patients experienced complications requiring additional surgery, nearly all parents reported health-related benefit. Future studies to identify predictors of treatment response and complications are needed.
Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society. 2017 Aug 10 [Epub ahead of print]
P L Lu, I J N Koppen, D K Orsagh-Yentis, K Leonhart, E J Ambeba, K J Deans, P C Minneci, S Teich, K A Diefenbach, S A Alpert, M A Benninga, D Yacob, C Di Lorenzo
Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA., Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA., Department of Pediatric Surgery, Levine Children's Hospital, Charlotte, NC, USA., Department of Surgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA., Division of Urology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA., Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.