title: Effect of Transcutaneous Acupoint Electrical Stimulation on Post-Hemorrhoidectomy-Associated Pain, Anxiety, and Heart Rate Variability: A Randomized-Controlled Study.
abstract: Hemorrhoidectomy is the current best treatment for severe hemorrhoids, but it causes significant postoperative pain and anxiety, which is associated with heart rate variability (HRV). Transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) was assumed to alleviate pain and anxiety, and modify the autonomic nervous system. This study aimed to examine the effects of TAES intervention on postoperative pain, anxiety, and HRV in patients who received a hemorrhoidectomy. A randomized-controlled trial with five repeated measures was conducted. The TAES group ( n = 39) received four 20-min sessions of electrical stimulation at chengshan (BL57) and erbai (EX-UE2) after hemorrhoidectomy, whereas the control group ( n = 41) did not. Data were collected using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and HRV physiological signal monitor. TAES resulted in a significant group difference in pain scores, anxiety levels, and some HRV parameters. The findings indicate that TAES can help reduce pain and anxiety associated with hemorrhoidectomy. TAES is a noninvasive, simple, and convenient modality for post-hemorrhoidectomy-associated pain control and anxiety reduction.
authors.affiliation: 1 National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: 2 Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Chu
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: 3 Wan fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lun-Chia
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: 4 Taipei City Hospital Renai Branch, Taiwan.|5 National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shuo-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hung
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D061865:Hemorrhoidectomy; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: complementary therapy; heart rate variability (HRV); hemorrhoidectomy; postoperative anxiety; postoperative pain; transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES)