Title: Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation on Post Operative Pain

Authors: Dr Saurabh Mahamia, Dr Suresh Naik, Dr Nagendra Yadav, Dr (Brig) KVS Rana, Dr Abhishek Singh, Dr Shamshad Ahmed

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i10.80

Abstract

Introduction: The management of post-operative pain continues to be a significant aspect of a post-operative patient care in surgical practice. TENS is a simple, non-invasive analgesia technique which is used in health care settings, due to its ease of administration, rapid onset, it is cheaper compared to long term use of drugs, analgesics & also few side effects/ drug interactions. The method being non-toxic and non-invasive, the physiological & psychological dependence does not develop with its use. The advantage of TENS is that the problems of respiratory depression, sedation, hypotension seen with narcotics are avoided & reduced. This study is being undertaken to study the efficacy of TENS in management of post operative pain.

Aims & Objectives:

1.      To assess the effectiveness of TENS in the management of post-operative pain.

2.      To determine the role of TENS in reducing the incidence of postoperative pain associated complications.

3.      To compare the effectiveness of TENS with postoperative analgesic group and patients receiving both TENS and analgesia.

Materials & Methods: The study included 120 patients who underwent surgeries like Appendicectomy, hernioplasty and cholecystectomy and were divided in three groups. The detailed case history of one hundred twenty cases was recorded, clinical examination and investigations carried out. Post-operative pain was assessed with visual analogue score and functional activity score from POD 1 to POD 7 and associated postoperative complications. All these factors were used to monitor the progress and assess the recovery of the patient. Depending on use of TENS or analgesics or both and divided in groups A, B and C.

Conclusions: TENS shows a very promising effect in controlling the postoperative pain, there was a significant reduction in pain in Hernioplasty and Appendicectomy surgeries but minimal in Cholecystectomy. TENS also shows that side effects of analgesics drugs are reduced to the minimal level.

Key Words:- TENS , Post-operative Analgesia, functional activity score.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Abhishek Singh

Dr D Y Patil Pune

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