Abstract General Information

Title

ELECTROSTIMULATION IN THE TREATMENT OF GIGGLE INCONTINENCE ASSOCIATED WITH URINARY AND INTESTINAL SYMPTOMS: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT

Introduction and objective

Giggle incontinence is defined as a rare condition in which there is significant bladder emptying or leakage during or immediately after laughter, with no changes in bladder function when there is no laughter. However, it is common in practice to describe laughter-associated incontinence in combination with other urinary alterations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the frequency of complete resolution for giggle with urinary and intestinal symptoms in patients undergoing transcutaneous electrical nerve electrostimulation (TENS).

Method

A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on electronic medical record data of patients who initiated treatment for overactive bladder and bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) between 2012 and 2021. Patients who reported giggle during their initial consultation and underwent 20 sessions of TENS were included. For the analysis of complete resolution, the presence of the following symptoms was compared between the initial consultation and one month after the completion of treatment: giggle incontinence, urgency, daytime incontinence, enuresis, and constipation.

Results

A total of 51 patients were included in the study, with 36 (70.8%) being female, and a median age of 8 (IQR 7-10) years in the sample. Within this group, 33 (64.7%) patients were diagnosed with BBD, and 18 (35.3%) with overactive bladder. The frequency of complete resolution for giggle and the analyzed symptoms was as follows: 33 (64.7%) out of 51 patients with giggle, 29 (58%) out of 50 patients with urgency, 24 (48%) out of 50 patients with daytime incontinence, 15 (34.8%) out of 43 patients with enuresis, and 21 (63.6%) out of 33 constipated patients. No statistically significant difference was found in the complete resolution among the analyzed symptoms.

Conclusion

The frequency of complete resolution among patients with giggle incontinence suggests a potential benefit of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as a treatment for this condition.