Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Postoperative Pain Relief

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Top Contributors - Aminat Abolade, Leana Louw and Kim Jackson  

Introduction

Conventional approaches to the management of post-operative pain remains inadequate. Intermittent ‘on-demand’ administration of opiates results in fluctuating plasma levels and poor pain relief; increasing the frequency of administration and the amount of opiate may improve pain control but results in unwanted side effects. Intravenous opiate infusion may provide better analgesia but with the risk of respiratory depression.

The success of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation in the management of chronic pain along with its absence of side effects, particularly respiratory depression, has led to its recent use in the management of post-operative pain. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve stimulation (TENS) is an effective adjunctive therapy for postoperative pain; however, effects of different frequencies of stimulation have not been systematically investigated.

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