What is Urgent PC?
Urgent PC is a Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) neuromodulator that stimulates the nerves in the sacral plexus through gentle electrical impulses. Urgent PC is a clinic-based, non-drug, non-surgical treatment option for voiding dysfunctions.
Healthcare professionals have been using Urgent PC to treat OAB for decades. Clinical evidence shows that 80% of patients have responded well to treatment with Urgent PC.9
The results have been maintained after three years when the initial series was followed by maintenance therapy. The results included reductions in day and night-time voiding frequency, and leakage episodes.
The Procedure
Urgent PC delivers a specific type of neuromodulation that travels through the nerves in the Tibia (shinbone). During treatment, a small, slim needle electrode is inserted near the ankle. The needle electrode is then connected to the battery-powered stimulator.
During the 30-minute treatment, mild impulses from the stimulator travel through the needle electrode, along the leg and to the nerves in the pelvis that control bladder and bowel function.
Patients will receive an initial series of 12 treatments, typically scheduled about a week apart. After the completion of these treatments, a specialist will determine a personal plan to maintain results, which may include additional sessions.
Benefits
- Minimally invasive treatment easily administered in a clinic
- Well-tolerated by patients with few associated side-effects10
- Suitable for patients when conventional therapies have failed11
- May be used alone or with other therapies
FAQs
Patients may experience the sensation of Urgent PC differently; however, most patients feel mild tingling where the needle electrode is inserted. PTNS offers many different levels of stimulation, so the specialist will be able to adjust the treatment as it progresses and address any discomfort.
Immediate results vary from individual to individual, but studies show that results can be evident from the 7th treatment. However, it is important that the initial series of the recommended 12 treatments is completed before the specialist evaluates the effectiveness of the therapy. Individual patient expectations should be discussed with the specialist.
- Patients with pacemakers or implantable defibrillators
- Patients prone to excessive bleeding
- Patients with nerve damage that could impact either percutaneous tibial nerve or pelvic floor function
- Patients who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the duration of the treatment
There is no conclusive list of risks associated with PTNS treatment, but some of the most common side-effects result from the placement of the needle electrode. They may include minor bleeding, mild pain and skin inflammation. In any case, studies show that the rate of side-effects is low.