High frequency TENS as a complement for pain relief in postoperative transition from epidural to general analgesia after pancreatic resection.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the effect of high frequency transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) as a pain relieving complementary therapy at the transition from epidural (EDA) to general analgesia after pancreatic surgery by horizontal, abdominal incision.


METHODS
Fifty-five consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic resection were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to active or sham TENS treatment. Twenty subjects were included in the analysis. Pain, quality of recovery and additional analgesia consumption were measured during the 24 h of transition from EDA to general analgesia.


RESULTS
Additional analgesic consumption and pain estimations at 24 h after EDA termination differed between the two groups, but was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
This study did not find support to reject use of high frequency TENS as complement during transition from EDA to general analgesia after major abdominal surgery with horizontal incision.
Division of Nursing, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Nursing Science, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden. Electronic address: kristofer.bjersa@ki.se.
Kristofer
K
Bjerså
Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Thomas
T
Andersson
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
Complementary therapies; Epidural analgesia; Pancreaticoduodenectomy; Postoperative pain; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation