Treatment for Acute Postoperative Voiding Dysfunction (PTNS)

Percutaneous Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Acute Postoperative Voiding Dysfunction

If patients are unable to have their foley catheter removed because their bladder is not emptying well, they may be eligible for study participation. This study is designed to evaluate whether Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation is effective in improving bladdder function after surgery. Study participation is limited to one day.

If patients fail a voiding trial (the test done to see if a foley catheter is ready to be removed after surgery), they may be offered participation in this trial. Patients are randomized to receive active treatment or a sham treatment. A small, accupuncture-type needle is inserted through the skin just above the ankle. A small, battery-powered generator will be attached to the needle. The generator will give a low-voltabe stimulation which is adjusted for comfort level and applied for 30 minutes. After treatemnt, the voiding trial will be repeated.

34 gauge needle inserted 3cm above the medial ankle, but nonconductive cables are connected, so that no electrical stimulation is applied, over a 30-minute treatment period

34 gauge needle inserted 3cm above the medial ankle, and cables are connected to the PTNS stimulator device. Stimulation is provided, per manufacturer directions, over a 30-minute treatment period

34 gauge needle inserted 3cm above the medial ankle, and cables are connected to the PTNS stimulator device. Stimulation is provided, per manufacturer directions, over a 30-minute treatment period.

34 gauge needle inserted 3cm above the medial ankle, but nonconductive cables are connected, so that no electrical stimulation is applied, over a 30-minute treatment period

Improvement of voiding efficiency, as measured by dividing the volume voided by the total volume (voided volume + retained volume) per participant. Each participant is evaluated separately, and the mean percentage of improvement was calculated for each arm.

Participants were asked to guess to which treatment arm they had been allocated ("PTNS" "Sham" or "I Don't Know"). Outcome was measured as the number of patients in each arm accurately determining their allocation.

Patient-reported discomfort attributable to the study intervention (0-10 Likert scale, with higher numbers representing greater pain)

Inclusion Criteria: First voiding trial after Urogynecological surgery shows that bladder is not emptying well. Exclusion Criteria: Patient declines participation.