ABSTRACT

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) which is used to treat chronic pain syndromes has been reported to be of some utility in the treatment of post-surgical pain. The aim of this prospective, randomized, doubleblinded study was to investigate the effects of high or low frequency-TENS on postoperative pain control after abdominal hysterectomy.

Forty patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy were randomly allocated to receive either low frequency or conventional TENS. Patient-controlled analgesia was applied to all patients with morphine infusions for postoperative analgesia after surgery. Pain scores were assessed before and after each application of TENS. Sedation scores, total morphine consumption, additional analgesic requirement and adverse effects were recorded.

Pain score was significantly lower after TENS application in both groups (except at 18th hours). There was a statistically significant intergroup difference only at 30th mins, postoperatively for morphine delivery (p=0,012). Morphine consumption, adverse effects and sedation scores (except 18th hours) were similar in both groups.

There was no difference between low and high frequency-TENS for morphine consumption after abdominal hysterectomy. In both groups, pain scores were significantly lower than baseline values after each application of TENS.

Keywords: TENS, postoperative pain, patient-controlled analgesia, morphine