Status of sacral neuromodulation for refractory constipation

AIM: This review article aims to provide a brief update on the current data on and position of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in the specialized management of refractory idiopathic constipation. METHOD: Published evidence from PubMed and our own unpublished data on SNM treatment for refractory idiopathic constipation were used for this evaluation. RESULTS: Seven studies were found in PubMed that covered this topic. The main focus was on the most recently published multicentre nonrandomized European trial. Summary data from our unpublished study on constipation in children are also included. CONCLUSIONS: The use of SNM in the treatment of idiopathic constipation is still in its early phase and while the available efficacy and safety data are limited, they show promising results. As there are few alternatives for this difficult patient group, it is worth offering a percutaneous nerve evaluation (PNE) test, which is known to be a good predictor of postimplant treatment success.