Patient Satisfaction With Long-term Sacral Neuromodulation for Fecal Incontinence: Experience from a Single Tertiary Center

BACKGROUND: Sacral Neuromodulation is an effective treatment for faecal incontinence in the long-term. Efficacy is typically assessed using bowel diary, symptom severity, or quality of life questionnaires and ‘success’ defined as >50% improvement in these measures. Patient satisfaction may however be a more meaningful and individualised measure of treatment efficacy. OBJECTIVE: To assess patient reported satisfaction with long-term sacral neuromodulation and compare it to the frequently applied efficacy measures. DESIGN: An observational study of a prospectively maintained database. SETTING: A single tertiary pelvic floor referral unit. PATIENTS: Data from 70 (68 female, median age 69 [60 – 74]) patients were available. The median time since implantation was 11 (9 – 14) years. Nineteen patients reported inactive neuromodulation devices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bowel diaries, the Manchester Health Questionnaire, and the St Marks Incontinence Score recorded at baseline, after percutaneous nerve evaluation, and at last follow-up. Patient reported satisfaction, using a 0%-100% visual analogue scale, with treatment since implantation (overall) and in the two-weeks preceding completion of the last outcome measures (current). RESULTS: Satisfaction was significantly higher in those with active sacral neuromodulation devices (75% vs 20%, p<0.001) at follow-up. No significant relationships exist between symptom improvement using conventional measures, and patient reported satisfaction. Current satisfaction was not associated with changes in bowel diary data following percutaneous nerve evaluation. Despite improvements in the St Mark’s incontinence score and Manchester Health Questionnaire below the 50% improvement threshold used to define ‘success’, patients reported high (80%) satisfaction. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective with gaps in the available data. CONCLUSIONS: High patient satisfaction with sacral neuromodulation can be achieved, however the response to percutaneous nerve evaluation may not predict treatment satisfaction in long-term. The change in questionnaire results, which measure the use of compensatory behaviors and quality of life impact, may better correspond to treatment satisfaction.