The potential benefit of nonpharmacological adjunctive therapy is not
well-studied following major abdominal surgery. The aim of the present
study was to investigate transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
(TENS) as a complementary nonpharmacological analgesia
intervention during weaning from epidural analgesia (EDA) after open
lower abdominal surgery. Patients were randomized to TENS and
sham TENS during weaning from EDA. The effects on pain at rest,
following short walk, and after deep breath were assessed by visual
analog scale (VAS) grading. Number of patients assessed was lower
than calculated because of change in clinical routine. Pain scores
overall were low. A trend of lower pain scores was observed in the
active TENS group of patients; a statistical significance between the
groups was found for the pain lying prone in bed (p < .05). This
controlled pilot study indicates benefits of TENS use in postoperative
pain management during weaning from EDA after open colon surgery.
Further studies are warranted in order to verify the potential