Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy for III B chronic pelvic pain syndrome

BACKGROUND: To analyze the efficiency of low-intensity shock wave therapy (LI-ESWT) for patients with III B chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). METHODS: The study included an uncontrolled population of 32 patients who had suffered with CPPS for ≥3 months. LI-ESWT was performed without anesthesia via a perineal approach. The operation was carried out in four weeks by administering 12,000 shock waves. Using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and NIH-developed Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), subsequent tests were performed at 1, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after the first LI-ESWT session. RESULTS: All patients who received the four week course as treatment responded actively on the pain VAS and the NIH-CPSI, and both were significantly improved (P<0.05). Compared with the baseline parameters, the NIH-CPSI total score and VAS exhibited substantial improvement at 4 and 12 weeks, where a total improvement at four weeks was reached. It is easy and safe to perform LI-ESWT without anesthesia on an outpatient basis. CONCLUSIONS: LI-ESWT should be regarded as a promising new therapy for CPPS, as it is convenient to perform without any side-effects.