Effect of functional continuous magnetic stimulation for urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE

We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of continuous magnetic stimulation on urinary incontinence by studying the urodynamic effect on urethral closure and bladder inhibition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 11 patients with stress incontinence and 12 with urge incontinence (7 males and 16 females, mean age 55.8 years) were evaluated. In the pilot study urethral pressure profile was performed before and after 20 Hz. 15-minute (with 1-minute on/30-second off cycles) stimulation, and maximum intraurethral pressure was recorded during stimulation in stress incontinence cases. Cystometry was performed before and during 15-minute stimulation at 10 Hz. in urge incontinence cases. In the therapeutic study 8 females with stress incontinence, and 3 males and 5 females with urge incontinence were treated with magnetic stimulation twice a week for 5 weeks.

RESULTS

In the pilot study maximum intraurethral pressure increased by 34% during stimulation and maximum urethral closure pressure increased by 20.9% (p = 0.0409) after stimulation in stress incontinence cases. In urge incontinence cases significant increases in bladder capacities at first and maximum desire to void during stimulation were noted (p = 0.0164 and 0.0208, respectively). In the therapeutic study 86% of 7 patients with stress incontinence and 75% of 8 with urge incontinence were improved, and 1 dropped out of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous magnetic stimulation was effective on urethral closure and bladder inhibition, and as treatment of urinary incontinence.