title: Comparison of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Paravertebral Block for Postthoracotomy Pain Relief.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inadequate relief of postthoracotomy pain is a major reason of increased occurrence of postoperative complications. We aimed to investigate and compare the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and paravertebral block (PVB) to relieve pain after thoracotomy procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 40 patients who underwent thoracotomy. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either PVB (group P, n = 20) or TENS (group T, n = 20) for postoperative pain. The electrodes of TENS were placed 2 cm under and 2 cm over the thoracotomy cut on both posterior and anterior sides. The surgeon inserted paravertebral catheters using direct vision at the end of the surgery. A patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device was connected to all patients. Visual analog scales, patient demand, and consumption of tramadol were evaluated postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean visual analog scale (VAS) values were significantly lower in group P for all time points. The patients in group P needed lower amounts of opioid (tramadol) and the difference was statistically significant (258.4 ± 13.52 mg vs. 314.4 ± 8.65 mg, p = 0.005). In addition, the number of demand attempts recorded from the PCA device was significantly lower in group P (14.95 ± 13.64 vs. 26.7 ± 17.34, respectively and p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TENS has beneficial effects for pain relief after thoracotomy, without any side effects; however, it cannot provide sufficient pain relief when compared with PVB.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey.
authors: Elif Dogan
authors: ED
authors: Baki
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey.
authors: Gürhan
authors: G
authors: Öz
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey.
authors: Serdar
authors: S
authors: Kokulu
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey.
authors: Alper Murat
authors: AM
authors: Ulaşlı
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey.
authors: Yüksel
authors: Y
authors: Ela
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey.
authors: Remziye Gul
authors: RG
authors: Sıvacı
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey.
authors: Hasan
authors: H
authors: Şenay
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey.
authors: Gökcen
authors: G
authors: Doğan
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local