Conservative management of chronic interstitial cystitis: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and transurethral resection

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was used in a prospective series of 23 patients with classical interstitial cystitis. This treatment reduced pain in 18 patients and urinary frequency returned to normal in 8. Four women with a history of cystitis for 1 or 2 decades had no symptoms during transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for 7 or more years and lesions disappeared or were hardly detectable. A 2 to 3-fold increase in bladder capacity with anesthesia also was registered. Complete transurethral resection of visible lesions in 30 patients resulted in initial disappearance of pain in all and a decrease in urinary frequency in 21. The mode of action of the 2 methods and registered complications are discussed.