PHYS THER
Vol. 63, No. 2, February 1983, pp. 188-193
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Research

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Postlaparotomy Pain

Frederick L Schomburg and Sue Ann Carter-Baker

Mr. Schomburg was Research Consultant, Department of Comprehensive Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Margaret Memorial Hospital, 815 Freeport Rd, Pittsburgh, PA, and Research Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy Program, School of Health Related Professions, University of Pittsburgh, when this study was done. He now is Director of Physical Therapy, Sewickley Valley Hospital, Sewickley, PA 15143 (USA).
Ms. Carter-Baker was Associate Director, Physical Therapy Department, St. Margaret Memorial Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, when this article was written. She is currently Director, Physical Therapy Services, Aston Park Health Care Center, Asheville, NC 28803.

This study was designed to evaluate the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) postoperative program administered by a physical therapy department. A surgeon, a physical therapist, a recovery room nurse, and unit nurses participated in the program which included preoperative evaluation and patient education, application of sterile electrodes parallel to the incision in the operating room, TENS activation in the recovery room, follow-up visits, and data collection. Seventy-five patients who underwent laparotomy and received TENS at the most comfortable machine settings were compared by chart review to 75 patients who had undergone similar surgical procedures performed by the same surgeon before TENS postoperative pain management had been instituted. The TENS was applied for an average of five days; machine settings of intensity, frequency, and pulse width tended to be midrange. The TENS group took significantly less pain medication, but the length of hospital stay was not significantly different. Patients with TENS rated their pain on 10-point scales as more intense than uncomfortable. This study demonstrated that a well-structured interdisciplinary program of postoperative TENS management can reduce the amount of pain medication taken by patients after laparotomy.

Key Words: Pain, postoperative • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation


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G. Akyuz, O. Kayhan, A. Babacan, and F A. Gener
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of postoperative pain and prevention of paralytic ileus
Clinical Rehabilitation, January 1, 1993; 7(3): 218 - 221.
[Abstract] [PDF]