wireless, implantable tibial nerve stimulator system (ecoin™) for the treatment of refractory lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with ms

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Summary: prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (luts) in patients with ms increases with disease duration. current management of urinary clinical symptoms in ms is mainly conservative. its long-term outcome is often poor because of the progressive disease course and the treatment related side effects. alternative therapeutic options are botulinum toxin injections, electrical stimulation of dorsal penile/clitoral nerve, and sacral nerve modulation. posterior tibial nerve stimulation (ptns) is a second minimally-invasive method of electrical stimulation. multiple benefits may derive from the development and validation of a dedicated protocol of a new self-activated neuromodulation therapy, which may improve therapy compliance/effectiveness, quality of life and social life in ms patients with refractory luts. furthermore, it may contribute to reduce outpatient visits, health costs and work absenteeism. to investigate the performance and safety of the medical device ecoin™ for the treatment of refractory luts in patients with ms over a period of 6 months.

this is a prospective, interventional, single arm, self-controlled pilot study in patients with multiple sclerosis and oab symptoms with a 6-month treatment period of posterior tibial nerve stimulation with the medical device ecoin. it is a pilot study to explore the effectiveness and safety of using this device to treat ms patients with oab in daily clinical practice in. based on feasibility considerations, we plan to include approximately 20 patients. it consists of: 1. wash-out period from ptns treatment of at least 2 months; 2. baseline assessments; 3. implantation of ecoin; 4. system activation; and 5. treatment and follow-up visits for a 6-month period post implant activation. seven visits are foreseen during the trial.

Eligibility criteria:
main inclusion criteria: * diagnosis of ms according to macdonald (2011); * clinical stability over the past 6 months (no relapses or edss progression over the last 6 months); * one or more of: urinary frequency greater than 8 times/24 hours, urinary urge incontinence at least 2 episodes in 24 hours on 3-day voiding diary * urodynamic diagnosis of detrusor over-activity (doa) and / or detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (dsd); * previous failure of conservative treatments (challenge over ≥6 months) i.e. lifestyle modification-fluid consumption, behavioural modification, and pharmacological therapy and stable oab medications for at least 30 days or intolerance to pharmacological therapy (side effect); * positive response to ongoing ptns treatment defined as ≥50% reduction in urinary frequency, and/or ≥50% fewer incontinence episodes, or a return to normal voiding frequency \[\<8 voids/day\], based on retrospective diary review; * competent sphincter mechanism and normally functioning upper urinary tract; * leg circumference in the range of 20-30 cm at implantation site; * ability to comply with study requirements; * having provided written informed consent main exclusion criteria: * participation in another study with any investigational drug or device within the past 90 days; * any metal implant in the area of ecoin implantation site; * anatomical defects that preclude use of the device; * treatment with botulinum toxin injections, urinary incontinence surgery or implantation of artificial graft material, spinal or genitourinary surgery, abdominoperineal resection of the rectum or radical hysterectomy (female)/ prostatectomy (male) within the last 6 months; * previous treatment with sacral neuromodulation; * diagnosis of pelvic pain disorders, stress incontinence, current urinary tract infection, urinary stone and/or urinary tract malignancy; cystocele, enterocele or rectocele of grade 3 or 4; * previous or current pelvic radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy; * severe uncontrolled diabetes; * pregnant or lactating women or women planning a pregnancy

Keywords: multiple sclerosis lower urinary tract symptoms posterior tibial nerve stimulation neuromodulation