Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as an adjunct for controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in gynecologic oncology patients.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the efficacy of a miniaturized portable transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit (ReliefBand) as an adjunct to standard antiemetic therapy for controlling nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin-based chemotherapy in gynecologic oncology patients.


METHODS
Forty-two patients were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-subjects trial with a follow-up crossover trial. All patients received a standardized antiemetic protocol, then wore the ReliefBand continuously for 7 days.


RESULTS
Thirty-two patients were evaluable for the parallel-subjects component, 16 in each group. The percentage of patients with absent or minimal nausea was 59% overall, which was similar to that for both the active (56%) and placebo (62%) groups. The incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting was similar for each group. Eighteen patients completed two consecutive cycles and were evaluable for the crossover component. The average age of the crossover patients and their dose intensity were comparable with those of the overall study population (56.3 versus 58.6 years and 22.7 versus 22.7 mg/m2/week, respectively). The percentage of cycles with absent or minimal nausea was 47% overall, which was similar to that of the active (50%) and placebo (44%) cycles. However, the severity of nausea was significantly lower in the active cycles during days 2 to 4. Patients averaged less than one episode of vomiting daily in each cycle.


CONCLUSIONS
The ReliefBand is an effective adjunct to standard antiemetic agents for controlling nausea induced by cisplatin-based chemotherapy in gynecologic oncology patients.
Pearl
M L
ML
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Surgery, State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA.
Fischer
M
M
McCauley
D L
DL
Valea
F A
FA
Chalas
E
E
D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*
D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin