Revision Rates for Rechargeable Versus Non-Rechargeable Sacral Neuromodulation Devices in the Management of Overactive Bladder

Purpose: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a prevalent condition that can have a significant impact on quality of life. Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is proven as an effective treatment option for OAB patients. Rechargeable devices have gained popularity in recent years. However, there is a paucity of data investigating revision rates for rechargeable SNM devices and associated impacting factors. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate the revision rates of SNM devices in patients diagnosed with OAB. Patients who underwent implantation of rechargeable or non-rechargeable SNM devices at our institution between January 2019 and June 2023 were included. Revision events, reasons for revisions, and patient demographics were analyzed and compared between the device groups. Results: The study included 246 patients. One hundred fifty received rechargeable SNM devices and 96 received non-rechargeable devices. Revision rates were significantly different between the two groups, with 34% of patients in the rechargeable device group requiring revisions compared to 13.5% in the non-rechargeable group (p < 0.001). The most common reasons for revision in the rechargeable group included difficulty charging (35.3%) and reduction of symptom improvement (23.5%). Having a rechargeable device resulted in a significantly higher probability of requiring a revision over time compared to non-rechargeable (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that patients who received rechargeable SNM devices were more likely to require revision. Factors such as device malfunction or difficulties connecting to the device may contribute to the higher revision rates. Further studies are needed to elucidate factors affecting revision rates in SNM devices.