Postoperative pain relief by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

In prospective, random assignment of 2 groups of 15 patients, relief of postoperative pain with narcotic medications was evaluated and compared with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for 2 days immediately following surgery. Presence of ileus and hospital stay were identical in both groups. Patients on TENS demonstrated a marked significant decrease in the amount of narcotics administered. There was favorable nursing, physician and patient acceptance to these devices. Further clinical evaluation is, therefore, in progress.