Emsella for Reducing tSUI After HOLEP

May 5, 2026 updated by: Amy Krambeck, Northwestern University

The Utility of Emsella for Reducing Transient Stress Urinary Incontinence (tSUI) Following Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP)

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the Emsella chair treatments at different timepoints. Before and after the holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP).

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Northwestern University
        • Contact:
          • Alyssa McDonald, MPH

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Prostate sizing 80-150g
  • Ability to independently transfer and tolerate all 30min Emsella treatments (e.g. not wheelchair bound, no mobility issues)
  • Baseline M-ISI scores <4
  • Same-day catheter removal and discharge
  • Able to read, understand, and complete surveys and questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Catheter dependence
  • Previous BPH procedure
  • Previous pelvic surgeries
  • Pre-existing pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Neurogenic bladder
  • Overactive bladder - e.g. prescribed and taking any oxybutynin or mirabegron
  • Preoperative pad-use for incontinence

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Standard Care (Kegel Exercises)
Patients are reminded to perform pelvic floor exercises known as Kegel exercises for 3 weeks leading up to their scheduled HoLEP procedure, and continue Kegel exercises for 3 weeks following the HoLEP procedure.
Active Comparator: Pre-HoLEP Emsella

Participants will complete 2 30-minute Emsella treatment sessions for 3 weeks (for a total of 6 30-minute Emsella chair treatment sessions) leading up to their scheduled HoLEP procedure.

They will undergo the HoLEP 1 week after the final Emsella treatment session.
Device: Emsella chair
Emsella is a non-invasive treatment used to activate and strengthen the pelvic floor. One Emsella treatment is reported to be the equivalent of performing 11,000 Kegel exercises.
Active Comparator: Post-HoLEP Emsella

Participants will complete 2 30-minute Emsella treatment sessions for 3 weeks (for a total of 6 30-minute Emsella chair treatment sessions) following their scheduled HoLEP procedure.

They will begin their first Emsella treatment session 1 week after HoLEP.
Device: Emsella chair
Emsella is a non-invasive treatment used to activate and strengthen the pelvic floor. One Emsella treatment is reported to be the equivalent of performing 11,000 Kegel exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Difference in Michigan Incontinence Score (M-ISI)
Time Frame: Pre-HoLEP, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks post-HoLEP
The Michigan Incontinence Score (M-ISI) is a 10-item questionnaire designed to assess urinary incontinence type, severity, and bother, with a focus on stress and urge incontinence. The tool is commonly used to screen for clinically relevant symptoms, with a total score of greater than or equal to 7 suggesting a need for intervention.
Pre-HoLEP, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks post-HoLEP
Difference in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)
Time Frame: Pre-HoLEP, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks post-HoLEP
The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is a 7-question tool (0-35 points) used in urology to assess Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) severity, plus one quality-of-life question. It measures symptoms like frequency, urgency, weak stream, and nocturia, with scores of 0-7 (Mild), 8-19 (Moderate), and 20-35 (Severe).
Pre-HoLEP, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks post-HoLEP

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Difference in safety/adverse effects
Time Frame: 12 weeks post-HoLEP
Adverse effects reported by patient or detected from hospital and ER admissions within 3 months after procedure.
12 weeks post-HoLEP

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Difference in patient reported symptoms
Time Frame: 6 months post-HoLEP
Patient reported symptoms via REDCap surveys related to gross hematuria, dysuria, incontinence after HoLEP.
6 months post-HoLEP

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Northwestern University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Amy E Krambeck, MD, Northwestern University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 5, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STU00225227

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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