Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Post-Cesarean Birth Pain Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pain Management
• Surgical Recovery

Background:

• Post-cesarean birth pain management often relies on opioids.
• Exploring non-pharmacological methods like TENS is crucial for reducing opioid dependence.
• Cesarean birth is a common major surgical procedure with significant postoperative pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) effectively reduces opioid consumption following cesarean birth.
• To assess the impact of TENS on postoperative pain scores, patient satisfaction, and hospitalization duration.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 180 participants undergoing cesarean birth.
• Participants were assigned to active TENS, placebo TENS, or no TENS groups.
• Primary outcome was opioid use within 60 hours postoperatively; secondary outcomes included pain scores and length of stay.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in median opioid consumption (morphine milligram equivalents) was observed between active TENS (7.5) and placebo TENS (0) groups (P=.31).
• Pain scores, satisfaction with pain control, and postoperative length of stay did not differ significantly across groups.
• Opioid consumption in the no TENS group (7.5) was also similar to the placebo TENS group (P=.57).

Conclusions:

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) does not appear to reduce opioid consumption or improve pain management after cesarean birth.
• The study found no evidence of a placebo effect for TENS in this patient population.
• Current evidence suggests TENS is not an effective adjunct for pain control following cesarean delivery.