The Laparoscopic Implantation of Neuroprothesis - LION technique - to control intractable abdomino-pelvic neuralgia

Introduction Our previous reports demonstrated the feasibility of laparoscopic exposure and preservation of all autonomous and somatic pelvic nerves during laparoscopic pelvic surgery (1,2,3). In a further work we showed that laparoscopy can not only be used to preserve the pelvic nerves but can also be used for neurosurgical procedures. We reported on our first experiences with laparoscopic neurolysis of the pudendal nerve in Alcock’s Canal Syndrome (4), and of the sciatic nerve in endometriotic infiltration (5,6). In this manuscript, a short series of our technique of laparoscopic implantation of electrodes for neuromodulation to pelvic and/or abdominal nerves in patients with intractable neuralgia, is presented.