High-frequency, high-intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as treatment of pain after surgical abortion.
The aim of the study was to compare the pain-relieving effect and the time spent in the recovery ward after treatment with high-frequency, high-intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or intravenous (IV) conventional pharmacological treatment after surgical abortion. Two-hundred women who underwent surgical abortion and postoperatively reported a visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score3 were included. The patients were randomised to TENS or conventional pharmacological treatment for their postoperative pain. The TENS treatment was given with a stimulus intensity between 20 and 60 mA during 1 min and repeated once if insufficient pain relief (VAS3). In the conventional pharmacological treatment group, a maximum dose of 100 microg fentanyl was given IV. There was no difference between the groups with regard to pain relief according to the VAS pain score (TENS=VAS 1.3 vs. IV opioids=VAS 1.6; p=0.09) upon discharge from the recovery ward. However, the patients in the TENS group spent shorter time (44 min) in the recovery ward than the conventional pharmacological treatment group (62 min; p<0.0001). The number of patients who needed additional analgesics in the recovery ward was comparable in both groups, as was the reported VAS pain score upon leaving the hospital (TENS=2.0 vs. conventional pharmacological treatment=1.8, NS). These results suggest that the pain-relieving effect of TENS seems to be comparable to conventional pharmacological treatment with IV opioids. Hence, TENS may be a suitable alternative to conventional pain management with IV opioids after surgical abortion.
Platon
B
B
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, SE-416 85 Göteborg, Sweden Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Institution of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, SE-416 85 Göteborg, Sweden Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, SE-416 85 Göteborg, Sweden.
Andréll
P
P
Raner
C
C
Rudolph
M
M
Dvoretsky
A
A
Mannheimer
C
C
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical / Q000379:methods; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult