Neuromodulation for Accidental Bowel Leakage (NOTABLe)
Fecal Incontinence, Bowel Incontinence
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Fecal Incontinence
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Women ≥ 18 years of age
- FI symptoms ≥ 3 months
- Baseline St. Mark's score of ≥ 12
- Attended ≥ 2 supervised PMT for ABL
- Intolerance, unwillingness, or inadequate response to constipating medications
- Current negative colon cancer screening based on the USPSTF's recommendation for colorectal cancer screening (2016)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous PTNS treatment
- History of uncontrolled diarrhea in the past 3 months (usual or most common stool type over the preceding 3 months of 7 on the Bristol Stool Form Scale)
- History of severe constipation in the past 3 months (usual or most common stool type over the preceding 3 months of 1 on the Bristol Stool Form Scale)
- History of inflammatory bowel disease (includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, but does not include irritable bowel disease)
- Unrepaired rectovaginal fistula/chronic 4th degree laceration
- Full thickness rectal prolapse
- History of congenital anorectal malformation
- History of bowel resection surgery for any indication
- Minor anal procedures within 6 months for treatment of ABL (injection of bulking agent or radiofrequency energy) or ligation of hemorrhoids
- Prior pelvic or abdominal radiation
- Diagnosis of cancer of the descending colon or anus
- Diagnosis of cancer in the region where the PTNS or sham needles or surface electrodes would be placed
- Pacemaker, implantable defibrillator
- Current use of Interstim sacral nerve stimulator or TENS in the pelvic region, back, or legs
- Clinically significant neurological disorders known to affect anal continence
- Coagulopathy
- Severe peripheral edema preventing accurate placement of PTNS needles
- Chronic swollen, infected, inflamed skin or skin eruptions (e.g., phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins) in the region where the PTNS or sham needles or surface electrodes would be placed
- Metal implant in foot/toes near TENS electrode location
- Marked sensory deficit (numbness) of feet or ankles in the region where the PTNS or sham needles or surface electrodes would be placed
- Childbirth within the last 3 months
- Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study duration 1 year; a urine pregnancy test will be performed and must be negative by the first intervention visit if the participant is of childbearing potential
- Unwilling to use acceptable form of contraceptive if the participant is of childbearing potential
- Participation in another intervention trial impacting bowel function
- Inability to provide informed consent, complete questionnaires independently, or to attend intervention sessions
- Unable or unwilling to complete the bowel diary in Run-In Phase (valid diary defined as data from ≥ 10 of 14 days with minimum of 3 consecutive days per week)
- Unwilling to download bowel diary app onto smartphone if the participant owns a smartphone
- Visual impairment prohibiting reading the paper diary, the smart phone screen
- Unable to speak, read, or write in English or Spanish at a basic level
Sites / Locations
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Kaiser Permanente -- Downey
- University of California at San Diego, UCSD Women's Pelvic Medicine Center
- Kaiser Permanente -- San Diego
- Duke University, Duke Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
- University of Pennsylvania
- Magee-Women's Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Brown/ Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Center for Women's Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS)
Validated Sham
PTNS treatment entails insertion of a 36 gauge needle electrode at a 60 degree angle 3-4 cm deep towards the tibial nerve, approximately 5 cm or 3 finger breadths cephalad to the medial malleolus and posterior to the tibia. The PTNS grounding electrode, placed near the calcaneus and the needle electrode will be connected to the ES-130 device pulse generator.
Sham treatment will use the Streitberger acupuncture placebo needle in the same location as the needle electrode for PTNS. The sham uses an active gel surface electrode pad placed on the bottom of the foot just below the fifth (smallest) toe. This location is not part of the acupuncture nerve pathway connected to the bladder, pelvis or any major organs. Electrical current is delivered to this pad via a TENS unit resulting in sensory stimulation.