Approach - these procedures can be done under a MAC anesthetic, unless contraindicated. Some will opt to do a GETT in the event the patient is extremely obese and/or anxious. muscle relaxants are contraindicated - The surgeon will be testing sacral nerves and muscle relaxants will interfere with this.
In this procedure, leads will be surgically placed just under the skin in the upper lateral buttocks. These leads are designed to stimulate the S2 - S4 sacral nerves. Impulses to these nerve roots are designed to suppress the overactive nerves of the bladder. The leads will be later attached to a device to test the efficacy of the stimulation. If the stimulation proves to be effective, the device will be permanently placed in stage 2. Placement of the interstim device is designed to treat overactive bladder, incontinence, and non-obstructive urinary retention. In some patients, a negative affect of the stimulation is loss of bladder control.
