Spinal cord stimulation for chronic abdominal pain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study to evaluate the treatment of chronic abdominal pain patients using objective evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs)
IRAS ID
322904
Contact name
Ganesan Baranidharan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Chronic abdominal pain is a common disorder that can have significant impact on the lives of patients. Treatment options include medication which can have limited effectiveness, be associated with side effects and may lead to tolerance and dependency. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a minimally invasive, therapeutic option for managing chronic abdominal pain. This involves implanting a device that delivers mild electrical signals to the spinal cord to reduce pain. Conventional SCS has been shown to improve abdominal pain caused by different disorders, but it causes feelings of unpleasant tingling in the tummy area. This feasibility study aims to explore relief from chronic abdominal pain symptoms when using a device that does not cause uncomfortable tingling feelings in the tummy area.
Up to 20 patients with chronic abdominal pain will be recruited to participate in this study. They will attend an initial visit prior to having the device implanted and they will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires. Participants will then attend the hospital to have the device implanted and the treatment settings of the stimulation adjusted. Once the stimulation is started, participants will be continuously monitored for their well-being through a series of in-person visits at the pain clinic on a regular basis. These will happen at 1 week and 3, 6 and 12 months after having the device implanted.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NE/0074
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jul 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion