Abstract
A controlled trial was undertaken to compare the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with standard intramuscular opiate analgesia in the management of postoperative pain following appendicectomy. Consecutive patients undergoing emergency appendicectomy were randomised into control, sham TENS and active TENS groups. There was a significant decrease in pain severity and analgesic intake in both active and sham TENS groups when compared with the control group (P less than 0.01). No difference was demonstrated in pain severity between active and sham TENS groups but the active TENS group required slightly less analgesia. These results suggest that the major benefit of TENS in the postappendicectomy patient is due to its 'placebo effect' and its use in this situation cannot be recommended.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Ali J., Yaffe C. S., Serrette C. The effect of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation on postoperative pain and pulmonary function. Surgery. 1981 Apr;89(4):507–512. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Catling J. A., Pinto D. M., Jordan C., Jones J. G. Respiratory effects of analgesia after cholecystectomy: comparison of continuous and intermittent papaveretum. Br Med J. 1980 Aug 16;281(6238):478–480. doi: 10.1136/bmj.281.6238.478. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cooperman A. M., Hall B., Mikalacki K., Hardy R., Sardar E. Use of transcutaneous electrical stimulation in the control of postoperative pain. Am J Surg. 1977 Feb;133(2):185–187. doi: 10.1016/0002-9610(77)90077-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cuschieri R. J., Morran C. G., McArdle C. S. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation for postoperative pain. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1985 Mar;67(2):127–129. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MELZACK R. The perception of pain. Sci Am. 1961 Feb;204:41–49. doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican0261-41. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mather L. E., Lindop M. J., Tucker G. T., Pflug A. E. Pethidine revisited: plasma concentrations and effects after intramuscular injection. Br J Anaesth. 1975 Dec;47(12):1269–1275. doi: 10.1093/bja/47.12.1269. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Melzack R. Prolonged relief of pain by brief, intense transcutaneous somatic stimulation. Pain. 1975 Dec;1(4):357–373. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(75)90073-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Melzack R., Wall P. D. Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science. 1965 Nov 19;150(3699):971–979. doi: 10.1126/science.150.3699.971. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nimmo W. S., Wilson J., Prescott L. F. Narcotic analgesics and delayed gastric emptying during labour. Lancet. 1975 Apr 19;1(7912):890–893. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)91687-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Taylor P., Hallett M., Flaherty L. Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Pain. 1981 Oct;11(2):233–240. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(81)90008-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]