1 Guidance

1 Guidance

This document replaced previous guidance on sacral nerve stimulation for 'Urge incontinence' (NICE Interventional Procedures Guidance no. 4) after the Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee reconsidered the procedure based on the results of a systematic review commissioned by NICE.

1.1 Current evidence on the safety and efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation for urge incontinence and urgency-frequency appears adequate to support the use of this procedure provided that the normal arrangements are in place for consent, audit and clinical governance.

1.2 Patient selection is important. The diagnosis should be defined as clearly as possible and the procedure limited to patients who have not responded to conservative treatments such as lifestyle modifications, behavioural techniques and drug therapy. Patients should be selected on the basis of their response to peripheral nerve evaluation.