title: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduces the incidence of vomiting after hysterectomy.
abstract: The possible postoperative antiemetic effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the P6 point (on the Pericardium Channel of Hand-Jueyin) was evaluated in 103 women undergoing hysterectomy. TENS on the P6 point was applied 30-45 min before induction of anesthesia in 51 patients and continued for 6 h postoperatively. The control group, 52 patients, was treated exactly in the same way but with the electrical stimulator turned off. Incidence of vomiting was assessed blindly 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 8 h postoperatively. The incidence of vomiting postoperatively was significantly less in the TENS-treated group when compared with the control group (between 0 h and 2 h: 23% vs 43%, P < 0.05; between 2 h and 4 h: 27% vs 50%, P < 0.025; and between 4 h and 6 h: 31% vs 67%, P < 0.001, respectively). Six hours postoperatively TENS was discontinued, and 8 h postoperatively the two groups did not differ significantly for incidence of vomiting (between 6 h and 8 h: 51% vs 65%). The authors conclude that TENS reduces the incidence of vomiting after hysterectomy.
authors: Department of Anesthesia, St Savas Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Fassoulaki
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Papilas
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Sarantopoulos
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zotou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*