Prospective evaluation of the incontan transrectal stimulator in women with urinary incontinence

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Abstract
A prospective study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of transrectal electrical stimulation with the Incontan device in women with urinary incontinence. Since July 1986, 36 women with various types of urodynamically documented urinary incontinence were treated with an integrated, automatic, rectally inserted electrical stimulator (the Incontan device). Despite previous optimistic reports of successful treatment with this device, the study group experienced significant problems with electronic device failure (32 out of 64 Incontan devices distributed), as well as having a high “drop‐out” rate (34 out of 36 women). At 6 months, only 2 of 36 women (6%) experienced subjective benefit from Incontan stimulation, although no significant change was documented on follow‐up urodynamic study. Incontan transrectal electrical stimulation is not a viable treatment option for female urinary incontinence due to poor patient acceptance and an unacceptable electronic failure rate of the device.