Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

Application 1009

Sacral nerve stimulation for refractory urinary urge incontinence or urinary retention

Sacral nerve stimulation for refractory urinary urge incontinence or urinary retention

Application No.1009
Application NameSacral nerve stimulation for refractory urinary urge incontinence or urinary retention
Advisory PanelsMs Hilda Bastian
(Chair and MSAC member)
Dr Peter Dwyer
(Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists nominee)
Mr Warren Johnson
(Royal Australasian College of Surgeons nominee)
Dr John Primrose
(Medical Advisor to the MSAC)
Mr Douglas Travis
(Australian and New Zealand Association of Urological Surgeons nominee)
Date Received by MSAC Secretariat1 December 1997
Stage 1 - EligibilityEligible
Stage 2 - AssessmentCompleted
Stage 3 - Formulation of Advice to the MinisterThis assessment was considered by the MSAC at the 17 November 1999 meeting.

The MSAC found that, on the strength of evidence pertaining to sacral nerve stimulation:
  • the intervention is associated with a relatively high rate of adverse events (NNH=2)
  • the long-term effectiveness is uncertain; and
  • the cost-effectiveness ratios associated with the intervention are unfavourable.

The MSAC therefore recommended that public funding should not be supported for sacral nerve stimulator implantation at this time.
Stage 4 - DecisionEndorsed by the Minister for Health and Ageing 6 March 2000
Stage 5 - Implementation

Page currency, Latest update: 30 March, 2009