Genital Nerve Stimulation - GNS - for Treatment of Non-neurogenic OAB

The Genital Nerve Stimulation - GNS - consists of a two-step procedure with a preoperative non-surgical test-phase and a final surgical implantation of the neuroprothesis. In contrast to the classical technique of transcutaneous lead electrode implantation for sacral or pudendal nerve stimulation, the GNS-test-phase does not require any interventional procedure: because the genital nerves are located just few millimeter below the skin, test-stimulation can be achieved using skin surface or needle electrodes. Stimulation is achieved using a battery powered hand-held stimulator . The effect of the stimulation can be tested by the patient in their daily, home and professional environment, or at the practice under urodynamic testing, or if required other electrophysio-logical testing. After confirmation of the effectiveness of GNS, implantation of a permanent neuroprothesis can be planned. The procedure is performed either under general or spinal anesthesia or using only local anesthesia with IV-sedation as in the classical tension-free vaginal tape procedure (TVT). Because the GNS does not require two surgical procedures for both the test- and the final-implantation but rather only one for the final implantation, the presented protocol allows considerable cost reduction in comparison to the usual procedures for sacral or pudendal nerve stimulation.