The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on post-thoracotomy pain


Erden S., Celik S. S.

CONTEMPORARY NURSE, vol.51, pp.163-170, 2015 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 51
  • Publication Date: 2015
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/10376178.2016.1166971
  • Journal Name: CONTEMPORARY NURSE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.163-170
  • Keywords: pain, thoracotomy, TENS, analgesics, nurse, POSTOPERATIVE PAIN, ANALGESIA, TENS
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: Pain guidelines suggest transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as a reliable analgesic method in postoperative pain. Objectives: This study was conducted as a randomized controlled study to determine the effect of TENS on postoperative pain and analgesic consumption in patients who have undergone posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT). Design: The study was conducted in the Thoracic Surgery Clinic of a university hospital with 40 patients (test group: 20, control group: 20) and its power was 99%. While, test group patients were administered TENS, the control group patients were not. The pain assessment and analgesic consumption in both groups were recorded. Results: The pain levels and analgesic consumption of the test group were lower than that of the control group (p<.05). Conclusions: TENS reduced PLT pain and analgesic consumption. Thus, TENS can be recommended as an easy and reliable analgesic method in PLT.