Constipation can usually be managed using conservative therapies. A proportion of patients require more intensive treatment. Surgery provides variable results. This paper describes an alternative approach, in which the neural control of the bowel and pelvic floor is modified, using permanent sacral nerve stimulation.

Four women (aged 27–36 years), underwent temporary and then permanent stimulation. All had idiopathic constipation, resistant to maximal therapy, with symptoms for 8–32 years. Clinical evaluation, bowel diary, Wexner constipation score, symptom analogue score, quality of life questionnaire and anorectal physiology were completed.

There was a marked improvement in all patients with temporary, and in three with permanent, stimulation. Median follow-up was 8 (range 1–11) months. Bowel frequency increased from 1–6 to 6–28 evacuations per 3 weeks. Improvement occurred, at longest-follow-up, in median (range) evacuation score (4 (0–4) versus 1 (0–4)), time with abdominal pain (98 (95–100) versus 12 (0–100) per cent), time with bloating (100 (95–100) versus 12 (5–100) per cent), Wexner score (21 (20–22) versus 9 (1–20)), analogue score (22 (16–32) versus 80 (20–98)) and quality of life. Maximum anal resting and squeeze pressures increased. Rectal sensation was altered. Transit time normalized in one patient.

Permanent sacral nerve stimulation can be used to treat patients with resistant idiopathic constipation.