Aimming to investigate the relationship between the frequency of postoperative programming control and patients’ satisfaction who underwent sacral neuromodulation (SNM) and completed impulse generator (IPG) placement, thereby facilitating the selection of program control mode following SNM operation.

This study collected population characteristics and program-controlled information from patients, including neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), overactive bladder (OAB), neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD), and interstitial cystitis/bladder painful syndrome (IC/BPS), six months after IPG placement. The subjects were categorized into groups based on their treatment satisfaction, and the relationship between program control information and satisfaction evaluation of the two patient groups was analyzed to provide guidance for selecting programming control mode for post-SNM patients.

All of the enrolled 423 patients underwent implantation of the IPG. We classified patients who expressed disatisfaction with SNM treatment into group A (n=191), while those who reported satisfaction were assigned to group B (n=232). The frequency of programming control during the six-month postoperative period was found to be significantly higher in patients belonging to group A compared to those in group B (P<0.001). The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) cueve analysis demonstrated that the frequency of progarmming control following SNM could serve as a predictive factor for patients’ satisfaction with treatment (AUC=0.88, cut-off value=3.5). Furthermore, the above findings demonstrated statistical significance in patients diagnosed with NLUTD (P<0.001), IC/BPS (P<0.001), NBD (0.014), and OAB (P=0.032). Simultaneously, the remote mode exhibits potential to augment patient satisfaction in cases where frequency are required more than three times (P=0.017).

The multi-center retrospective analysis revealed a inverse relationship between the frequency of programming control sessions and patients’ satisfaction with therapeutic treatment. For patients who require high programming control (more than three times) after IPG implantation, clinicians are advised to recommend the utilization of remote programming control mode to optimize the patient’s treatment experience.

The enhanced frequency of procedural control during the six-month period following IPG implantation has had an adverse impact on patient satisfaction. Moreover, for patients necessitating more than three procedures within a six-month timeframe, clinicians should consider recommending a remote programming mode to optimize and enhance treatment efficacy.

Continence 15S (2025) 102203
DOI: 10.1016/j.cont.2025.102203