Guidance
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation for overactive bladder syndrome. Further recommendations have been made as part of the clinical guideline on urinary incontinence in women published in September 2013. Clinical and cost-effectiveness evidence was reviewed in the development of this guideline which has led to this more specific recommendation. The interventional procedure guidance on percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation for overactive bladder syndrome remains current, and should be read in conjunction with the clinical guideline.
Description
The symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome include the need to urinate often and without much warning (frequency), and urge incontinence (the strong need to urinate followed by an inability to stop passing urine). It is caused by the bladder muscle contracting before the bladder is full. Percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) for overactive bladder involves inserting a fine needle into a nerve just above the ankle. A mild electric current is passed through the needle and carried to the nerves that control bladder function.
Coding and clinical classification codes for this guidance