Assessing the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in post-thoracotomy analgesia

Ferreira, Fabiana Cristina; Issy, Adriana Machado; Sakata, Rioko Kimiko

doi:10.1590/S0034-70942011000500006

Abstracts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is commonly used to treat musculoskeletal pain, but it may also be indicated for postoperative analgesia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effects of TENS on post-thoracotomy. METHODS: Thirty patients between 18 and 60 years of age undergoing thoracotomy for lung cancer resection on the second postoperative day were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups (G1 and G2). G1 patients were treated with TENS; and in G2 (without TENS) electrodes were placed but the equipment was not turned on. TENS was maintained for one hour. The visual analogue scale was used to evaluate the analgesic effects on three moments: before TENS (M0), immediately after TENS (M1), and one hour later (M2), with the patient at rest, elevation of the upper limbs, change in decubitus, and coughing. RESULTS: The intensity of pain at rest was higher in G2 immediately after TENS, but not one hour after the procedure. There was no difference between both groups with elevation of the upper limbs, decubitus change, and coughing. CONCLUSIONS: With the use of TENS for one hour on the second post-thoracotomy day in patients who received fentanyl (50 µg) associated with bupivacaine (5 mL), a reduction in pain intensity was observed at rest immediately after TENS; with elevation of the upper limbs, change in decubitus, and coughing, a reduction in pain severity was not observed.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation; Thoracotomy; Pain, Postoperative; Pain Measurement

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A estimulação nervosa elétrica transcutânea (TENS) é uma modalidade frequentemente usada para o tratamento da dor musculoesquelética, mas também pode ser indicada em caso de analgesia pós-operatória. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito analgésico da TENS após toracotomia. MÉTODO: Foram incluídos 30 pacientes entre 18 e 60 anos submetidos à toracotomia para ressecção de câncer pulmonar, no segundo dia após a operação, alocados em dois grupos, G1 e G2. Os pacientes do G1 foram submetidos ao tratamento com TENS; nos do G2 (sem TENS), os eletrodos foram colocados, porém o aparelho não foi ligado. A TENS foi mantida por uma hora. A avaliação do efeito analgésico ocorreu através da escala analógica visual em três momentos: antes da aplicação (M0), imediatamente após o término do procedimento (M1) e uma hora depois (M2), com o paciente em repouso, em elevação dos membros superiores, com mudança de decúbito e tosse. RESULTADOS: A intensidade da dor em repouso foi maior em G2 imediatamente após o término, mas não uma hora após o procedimento. Com elevação dos membros superiores, mudança de decúbito e tosse, não houve diferença entre os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Com aplicação de TENS durante uma hora no segundo dia após toracotomia em pacientes que receberam fentanil (50 µg) associada à bupivacaína (5 mL) em repouso, houve diminuição da intensidade da dor imediatamente após o término da aplicação; com elevação dos membros superiores e mudança de decúbito e tosse não houve redução da intensidade da dor.

CIRURGIA; DOR; TÉCNICAS DE ANALGESIA; TÉCNICAS DE ANALGESIA; TÉCNICAS DE MEDIÇÃO

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: La estimulación nerviosa eléctrica transcutánea (TENS), es una modalidad frecuentemente usada para el tratamiento del dolor musculoesquelético, pero también puede ser indicada en caso de analgesia postoperatoria. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto analgésico de la TENS después de la toracotomía. MÉTODO: Se incluyeron 30 pacientes entre 18 y 60 años, sometidos a la toracotomía para la resección de cáncer pulmonar, en el segundo día después de la operación. Los pacientes del G1 se sometieron al tratamiento con TENS; en los del G2 (sin TENS), se colocaron los electrodos, pero el aparato no se encendió. La TENS se mantuvo durante una hora. La evaluación del efecto analgésico se dio a través de la escala analógica visual en tres momentos: antes de la aplicación (M0), inmediatamente después del término del procedimiento (M1) y una hora después (M2), con el paciente en reposo, la elevación de los miembros superiores, el cambio de decúbito y con tos. RESULTADOS: La intensidad del dolor en el estado de reposo fue más elevada en el G2, inmediatamente después del término, pero no una hora después del procedimiento. Con la elevación de los miembros superiores, el cambio de decúbito y la tos, no hubo diferencia entre los grupos. CONCLUSIONES: Con la aplicación de TENS durante una hora en el segundo día después de la toracotomía en pacientes que recibieron fentanil (50 µg), asociada a la bupivacaína (5 mL) en reposo, se registró una reducción en la intensidad del dolor inmediatamente después del término de la aplicación. Pero con la elevación de los miembros superiores, el cambio de decúbito y la tos, no hubo reducción en la intensidad del dolor.

CIRUGÍA; DOLOR; TÉCNICAS DE ANALGESIA; TÉCNICAS DE ANALGESIA; TÉCNICAS DE MEDICIÓN

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE

^IPhysiotherapist; Master's Degree Student at USP

^IIPhysician; Professor, USP

^IIIPhysician; Coordinator of the Setor de Dor, USP

Correspondence to

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is commonly used to treat musculoskeletal pain, but it may also be indicated for postoperative analgesia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effects of TENS on post-thoracotomy.

METHODS: Thirty patients between 18 and 60 years of age undergoing thoracotomy for lung cancer resection on the second postoperative day were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups (G1 and G2). G1 patients were treated with TENS; and in G2 (without TENS) electrodes were placed but the equipment was not turned on. TENS was maintained for one hour. The visual analogue scale was used to evaluate the analgesic effects on three moments: before TENS (M0), immediately after TENS (M1), and one hour later (M2), with the patient at rest, elevation of the upper limbs, change in decubitus, and coughing.

RESULTS: The intensity of pain at rest was higher in G2 immediately after TENS, but not one hour after the procedure. There was no difference between both groups with elevation of the upper limbs, decubitus change, and coughing.

CONCLUSIONS: With the use of TENS for one hour on the second post-thoracotomy day in patients who received fentanyl (50 Ig) associated with bupivacaine (5 mL), a reduction in pain intensity was observed at rest immediately after TENS; with elevation of the upper limbs, change in decubitus, and coughing, a reduction in pain severity was not observed.

Keywords: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation; Thoracotomy; Pain, Postoperative; Pain Measurement.

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative pain causes complications in several organs hindering patient recovery ^1,2. It may also develop into chronic pain syndrome ^3-5.

After thoracotomy pain is severe for a long time, and a multimodal approach to therapy is used for pain relief. Drugs and techniques with different mechanisms of action are used to obtain the best results. In general, epidural opioids associated with systemic anti-inflammatories are used, and other drugs may also be added.

Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) is commonly used to treat musculoskeletal pain ^6,7. Some authors observed a postoperative analgesic effect with TENS ^8,9. A reduction on postoperative complication rate such as atelectasis and ileus, besides a reduction in patients remain in intensive care unit when undergoing thoracic surgery ¹⁰, has also been observed. Patients showed better tolerance to respiratory physiotherapy and had less side effects (nausea, vomiting, and sedation) caused by opioids ⁹.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation inhibits the transmission of stimuli in the spinal cord dorsal horn where connections between peripheral and central fibers occur. It activates inhibitory interneurons by stimulating large fibers ^11,12.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation uses low frequency electrical current, stimulating A-β fibers that transmit the information to the brain, activating descending inhibitory pathways to the spinal dorsal horn, reducing the traffic of pain stimuli. It is a simple, non-invasive, safe, low-cost procedure and it may be used for long periods ^11,12.

Although TENS has been used to treat post-thoracotomy pain ¹³, its efficacy is controversial ^14,15, which justifies this study whose objective was to evaluate its analgesic effect after thoracic surgery.

METHODS

After approval by the Ethics Committee and signing of the informed consent, a prospective randomized study was undertaken. Thirty patients were divided into two groups of equal size by drawing numbers placed in envelopes.

Patients of both genders, ages 18 to 60 years, undergoing thoracotomy for resection of lung cancer were included in this study. Patients with pacemaker, cognitive dysfunction, and in need of mechanical ventilation were excluded. The day before surgery patients received the required information on the procedure to be performed postoperatively.

Patients underwent epidural anesthesia (bupivacaine with fentanyl) associated with general anesthesia. Postoperative analgesia consisted of epidural administration of 5 mL of the solution (0.25% bupivacaine with 50 Ig of fentanyl) at 4-hour intervals. Patients also received intravenous dypirone 1 g, every four hours. Pain intensity was evaluated one hour after administration of epidural solution. In times of TENS application patients did not receive any other analgesics.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was performed on the second postoperative day. Patients in G1 underwent TENS one hour after having received the epidural solution; in patients in G2 (without TENS) electrodes were placed but the equipment was not turned on. Patients were informed that they could feel or not the stimulus and that if they felt any discomfort they should communicate to the investigator. TENS was maintained for one hour with the equipment regulated for a pulse width of 100 µsec, frequency of 100 Hz, and variable current intensity according to the perception of the patient. Electrodes were placed parallel to the incision.

The visual analogue scale was used to assess the analgesic effect of TENS at three moments: before the procedure (M0), immediately after the procedure (M1), and one hour later (M2). The scale was applied with the patient at rest, with change in decubitus (from laying down to sitting up), moving the upper limbs, and coughing.

The sample size was calculated by the Instat Graph^® software. A difference of at least 3 cm in VAS was considered clinically significant. Based on a preliminary evaluation, a standard deviation (SD) of 2.5 was estimated for pain scores. For 95% and α = 0.05 it was estimated that each group should have 15 patients. The software Instat Graph^® was used for statistical analysis. Results were expressed as mean ± SD. The follow ing tests were used: Mann-Whitney test for anesthesia and surgery duration, as well as pain severity; Student t test for age, weight, and height; and Fisher exact test for gender. A level of significance of p < 0.05 was considered.

RESULTS

Demographic data was similar in both groups and they are shown in Table I. Mean anesthesia duration was 412.2 ± 131.3 min in G1, and 397.3 ± 90.9 min in G2 without significant differences between groups (p = 0.7400; Mann-Whitney test). Mean surgery duration was 298 ± 118.6 in G1, and 271 ± 88.4 min in G2 without significant differences between groups (p = 0.6040; Mann-Whitney test).

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Pain severity is shown in Tables II, ^III, ^IV, and ^V . Pain severity at rest was greater in G2 immediately after the end of TENS, but not one hour after the procedure. With elevation of the upper limbs pain severity was greater in G2 one hour after the end of TENS. When changing decubitus (from laying down to sitting up) and with coughing, differences between groups were not observed.

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DISCUSSION

It were chosen patients undergoing thoracotomy because the procedure causes severe pain and the objective of the study was to evaluate whether TENS can help relieve it since oftentimes it can hinder physiotherapy.

In several studies TENS was used immediately after the end of surgery ^13,16,17, on the following day ¹⁵, and on the third day ¹⁸. In the present study TENS was evaluated on the second postoperative day because patients are more cooperative. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was used once because the objective of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of this procedure.

In one study, TENS was performed after eight hours without analgesics ¹⁸. However, at this moment patients are experiencing severe pain without analgesia and it is difficult to manage them without medication. For this reason epidural analgesia and intravenous dypirone were maintained, and the use of TENS as adjuvant therapy was assessed. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was performed for one hour after the last administration of epidural solution, since this provides enough time without interference of analgesia in the evaluation of TENS efficacy.

In the present study parameters recommended in literature were used ^9,13,15,16 in order to produce comparable results.

It is known that movements, deep inspiration and coughing increase pain intensity, and it is important to evaluate the efficacy of an analgesic technique in different positions.

The duration of TENS application varied in different studies (20 min ¹⁹, 30 min ¹⁶, 45 min ¹⁷, 60 min ¹², and 48 h ¹³). In this study it was applied for 60 min, since we believe that this time is required to adjust conventional TENS and to achieve significant pain relief.

A significant difference was observed at rest only after one hour of stimulus, but pain scores were lower in the TENS group at rest, with mobilization, and coughing. Because this is a non-invasive procedure and free of side effects its use should be considered for pain relief in association with other techniques.

The authors of a study concluded that TENS increases the analgesic effects of epidural solution in patients undergoing thoracotomy consisting of an important strategy in adjuvant analgesia for acute postoperative pain; however, they advised that its effects could be short-lived ^12,17, and therefore to be effective on relieving postoperative pain it should be maintained for 24-48 hours.

To conclude, the use of TENS for one hour on the second day after thoracotomy in patients receiving fentanyl (50 Ig) associated with bupivacaine (5 mL) was associated with a reduction in pain severity immediately after application, and a difference one hour after TENS was not observed at rest; a reduction in pain was not observed with elevation of the upper limbs, change in decubitus, and coughing.

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