Evaluating Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Postoperative Pain After Video-Assisted Thoracotomy Surgery

NCT ID: NCT01046695

Last Updated: 2012-12-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 56 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2010-03-31
• Study Completion Date: 2010-09-30

Brief Summary

We propose to evaluate the use of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in patients having undergone Video-Assisted Thoracotomy Surgery (VATS) with the aim to determine if:

• Nurses will be able to apply TENS effectively and in a timely manner to post VATS patients.
• Use of TENS immediately after thoracic surgery and for the first 48 hours will add to patient's pain control.
• Tens will reduce medication use.
• Tens will reduce nausea and vomiting.

Detailed Description

Video-Assisted Thoracotomy (VATS) patient's post procedure pain is a significant problem that may delay the recovery of thoracic surgery patients. Without adequate control of pain, the patient's mobilization and ability to participate in bronchial hygiene is compromised increasing the risk for pulmonary complications and inhibiting the body's natural healing ability. When acute post VATS pain is poorly controlled, the incidence of chronic post VATS pain six months or longer after the surgery increases. Post-operative pain is controlled largely through the use of pain medications delivered by a variety of routes including: epidural, intravenous, and when able, oral. Medications used include opioids which have side effects such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and constipation that may further delay the patient's recovery and prolong the hospital stay.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a method of pain relief that uses cutaneously applied electrodes that deliver electrical signals to peripheral nerves through the intact skin. Treating pain with TENS results in the patient having a reduced perception of pain. The effectiveness of TENS is based on two mechanisms: 1) the gate control theory of pain relief where stimulation of myelinated sensory fibers disrupts neuronal processing in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord, and 2) the stimulation-induced release of endogenous opioids, both in the central nervous system and the general circulation. The present practice for obtaining and applying a TENS unit on a patient for pain relief requires consultation with Physical Therapy who will come and assess the patient and then apply the TENS unit and make recommendations for settings and therapy. This process limits the response to only daytime and often results in a delay in initiation of treatment. After providing education and training it is anticipated that nurses could successfully apply a TENS unit and initiate therapy early in the immediate post operative period. The more timely application of a TENS unit to a post VATS patient could improve pain management outcomes for this population.

Patient's primary area of postoperative pain was determined by nursing personnel. Four electrodes were placed on or around the area of maximum pain by nurses trained in TENS therapy. The TENS unit was turned on, 1 of 5 frequency patterns selected and the impulse turned up until the patient could feel the impulse. The 5 program options available included: #1. Alternate Ramped Burst (ARB) (Rate = 100 pps; Ramp Up Time = 0.5s; On Time = 5s; Off Time = 6s). #2. Simple Modulated Pulse (SMP) (Rate = 125 pps; Cycle Time = 12s; Span Percentage = 40%; Rate stays in the 2-10 pps range for 1/3 of the cycle time (4 seconds) as the rate modulates down to 2 pulses per second (pps) and then back up again. #3. Modulated Amplitude (MA) (Rate = 125 pps; Cycle Time = 1s; Span Percentage = 60%). #4. Simple Modulated Pulse (SMP) (Rate = 125 pps; Cycle Time = 12s; Span Percentage = 40%; Rate stays in the 2-10 pps range for 1/3 of the cycle time (4 seconds) as the rate modulates down to 2 pulses per second (pps) and then back up again). #5 Modulated Amplitude, MA (Rate = 125 pps; Cycle Time = 1s; Span Percentage = 60%). The location of the electrodes, the pattern, and/or the intensity of the TENS unit were adjusted until the patient achieved maximum comfort with the sensation. Five minutes after initiation of TENS therapy and every hour there after - while patient was awake- for a total of 48 hours, the patient was reassessed by nursing staff and TENS settings were adjusted for patient comfort and pain control.

Conditions

Postoperative Pain

Keywords

VATS; Video-Assisted Thoracotomy; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

TENS Unit

This arm will be adding the use of the TENS unit for 48 hours in addition to standard care for their post operative pain control.

Patient's primary area of postoperative pain was determined by nursing personnel. Four electrodes were placed on or around the area of maximum pain. The TENS unit was turned on, 1 of 5 frequency patterns selected and the impulse turned up until the patient could feel the impulse. The location of the electrodes, the pattern, and/or the intensity of the TENS unit were adjusted until the patient achieved maximum comfort with the sensation.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

TENS Unit

Intervention Type: DEVICE

TENS is a method of pain relief that uses a battery operated electronic device with cutaneously applied electrodes that deliver electrical signals to peripheral nerves through the intact skin. The TENS Unit is a low voltage system that will only be used to a level to create alternative to pain sensation and will not create muscle response.

Control Arm

This arm will have standard care for their post operative pain control.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

TENS Unit

TENS is a method of pain relief that uses a battery operated electronic device with cutaneously applied electrodes that deliver electrical signals to peripheral nerves through the intact skin. The TENS Unit is a low voltage system that will only be used to a level to create alternative to pain sensation and will not create muscle response.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation unit

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Men and women age 18-100 able to give informed consent.
• Able to speak and understand English.

Exclusion Criteria

• Too confused to provide data or not extubated within 48 hours after surgery.
• Unable to speak and understand English.
• Patients with active internal pacer wires, demand type implanted pacemakers or defibrillator.
• Transplant patients.
• Children, prisoners, any woman who is pregnant.
• Patients that are non-scheduled surgery cases or occurring Saturday or Sunday.
• Ventricular Assisted Device (VAD) patients.
• Know allergies or intolerance to TENS electrodes.
• Patients who have had the Da Vinci robotic assisted minimally invasive procedure.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Deborah Engen

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Deborah J. Engen, O.T.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic

Dietlind L. Wahner-Roedler, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic

Locations

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Countries

United States

References

Engen DJ, Carns PE, Allen MS, Bauer BA, Loehrer LL, Cha SS, Chartrand CM, Eggler EJ, Cutshall SM, Wahner-Roedler DL. Evaluating efficacy and feasibility of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for postoperative pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A randomized pilot trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016 May;23:141-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.04.002. Epub 2015 Apr 20.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 25935320 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

10-000141

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id