AIMS: To assess the role of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), alone or in combination with anticholinergic drugs in the management of neurogenic bladder (NB) in spina bifida (SB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the consecutive patients, visiting outpatient clinic between July 2017 and December 2018, who were toilet trained and at least 1 year post-SB surgery with clinical and/or urodynamic evidence of NB, were included in the study. Out of 65 patients, 40 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were randomised into: group A (ten patients, placebo TENS with anticholinergic agents), Group B (14 patients, TENS therapy with placebo medications) and Group C (16 patients, TENS therapy with anticholinergic medications). All the patients maintained a voiding diary and underwent assessment before and after the intervention. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. RESULTS: The presenting symptoms were urinary incontinence (100%), increased frequency (45%), straining during micturition (22.5%), urgency (22.5%), and hesitancy (30%). The demographic parameters were comparable in all the groups. After group specific intervention, the wet episodes/day significantly improved in Group C (p = 0.001). Similarly, the mean wet days/week also improved significantly in Group C (6.5 to 4.37 days/week, p = 0.01). Out of 40 patients, 29 had abnormal findings on ultrasonography before the start of the therapy. Following intervention, only two patients in Group C showed normalization of findings. On Urodynamic studies, detrusor pressure (Pdet max) decreased in all the groups; however, the patients in Group C, showed the maximum reduction (56.6 +/- 11 to 30 +/- 6.7 cm H2O). Similarly compliance (9.4 to 14.5 cm H2O, p = 0.02) and bladder capacity (68% to 88% of EBC, p = 0.001) also improved significantly in Group C as compared to other 2 groups Overall, nine patients (Group A, B, and C = 1, 3, and five patients, respectively) showed detrusor instability, while post therapy, only one patient (Group B) had unstable bladder. Maximum decrease in postvoid residue (mean) was also observed in Group C (77 to 41 ml, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The application of TENS in NB secondary to SB is effective and its application led to improvement in symptoms, decrease in the wet episodes/day, maximum detrusor pressure, instability, bladder compliance, and capacity. TENS therapy in combination with anticholinergic agents had a better outcome as compared to monotherapy with either of the two modalities.

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