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Comparison of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Paravertebral Block for Postthoracotomy Pain Relief.
- Source :
-
The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon [Thorac Cardiovasc Surg] 2015 Sep; Vol. 63 (6), pp. 514-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Feb 16. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
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.<br />Materials and 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.<br />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).<br />Conclusion: TENS has beneficial effects for pain relief after thoracotomy, without any side effects; however, it cannot provide sufficient pain relief when compared with PVB.<br /> (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)
- Subjects :
- Anesthetics, Local therapeutic use
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pain Measurement
Pain, Postoperative diagnosis
Pain, Postoperative etiology
Retrospective Studies
Thoracic Vertebrae
Treatment Outcome
Nerve Block methods
Pain, Postoperative therapy
Thoracotomy adverse effects
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation methods
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1439-1902
- Volume :
- 63
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25686299
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1544212