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Use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in a young child with pain from open perineal lesions
S I Merkel1, H B Gutstein, S Malviya
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
Insights
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) effectively reduced pain during dressing changes in a pediatric patient. This therapy also decreased the need for opioid medication, showing promise for children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pain Management
- Neuromodulation Therapies
Background:
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is recognized for adult pain relief.
- Limited research exists on TENS efficacy in pediatric populations.
- Pediatric pain management often requires multimodal approaches.
Observation:
- A case report details a 4-year-old female with open perineal skin lesions.
- The patient underwent TENS as an adjuvant therapy during painful dressing changes.
- Painful procedures in children necessitate effective pain management strategies.
Findings:
- TENS demonstrated significant pain reduction in the pediatric patient.
- The therapy contributed to an opioid-sparing effect, reducing reliance on narcotics.
- This case highlights TENS as a viable option for pediatric pain control.
Implications:
- TENS may be a safe and effective non-pharmacological intervention for children.
- Further research is warranted to establish TENS protocols for pediatric use.
- This case supports exploring TENS for various pediatric pain conditions.
Abstract:
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been shown to be an effective treatment modality in adults experiencing pain associated with a variety of conditions. Therapeutic measures that are effective with adults can often be used with children. However, the benefit of TENS for children has not been well established since few research or clinical data have been published in the literature. This case report of a 4-year-old female with open perineal skin lesions who received TENS as an adjuvant therapy for painful dressing changes illustrates that TENS can be an effective treatment in children. In addition to the pain reduction seen in our patient, TENS therapy also had an opioid-sparing effect.
