Improving clinical outcomes with lower motor voltage (≤3 V) during stage 1 sacral neuromodulation for interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome

Aims We desire to evaluate whether utilization of ≤3 V (new experimental approach) vs the traditional four or more volts for lead motor response during stage 1 sacral neuromodulation may impart an improvement in voiding and pain parameters. Methods An observational, retrospective, double cohort review was conducted of 179 female patients who experienced medically recalcitrant interstitial cystitis (IC) or bladder pain syndrome (BPS) between January 2002 and January 2013. Group A included 105 women with a motor response of ≤3 V; group B was comprised of 65 women with a motor response at ≥4 V for medically recalcitrant IC or BPS. Patients completed a 3‐day pre‐ and postoperative voiding diary, visual analog pain (VAP) scale, pain urgency frequency (PUF), and Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI‐I) questionnaire. Results The mean (standard deviation) follow‐up in months was 120.1 ± 33.3 in group A and 116.3 ± 29.2 in group B (P