TENS Unit To Decrease Pain After Laminaria Insertion

NCT ID: NCT06529003

Last Updated: 2025-12-16

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

36 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-08-14

Study Completion Date

2025-11-05

Brief Summary

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The purpose of the study is to learn more about the transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) unit, an over-the-counter option for pain relief that is not a medication. The investigators are hoping to find out if this device decreases pain during and after laminaria placement for patients undergoing both elective and medically indicated second-trimester termination of pregnancy.

Detailed Description

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To compare the maximum pain scores reported during the interval between osmotic dilator placement and D\&E procedure of patients receiving the standard of care plus sham placebo and those who use an adjunctive Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit in addition to standard of care.

Secondary objectives include comparing pain scores at the time of laminaria insertion, assessing the number and duration of TENS sessions, additional analgesic use, satisfaction with pain management, and patient perception of the ease of use of the TENS unit.

Conditions

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Second Trimester Abortion

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Placebo

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants in the placebo group will be given a TENS unit without a battery with similar to the intervention group but will be advised that they may or may not feel a sensation from the electrodes. All participants will be provided with 15 tabs of ibuprofen 200 mg for outpatient pain control after the procedure. Participants will be instructed to take 600-800 mg of ibuprofen with food every 6 hours as needed for pain during the time period after laminaria insertion and before dilation and evacuation surgery, which is generally less than 24 hours.

TENS unit

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) unit

Intervention Type DEVICE

All participants in this study will receive the standard of care, which includes oral ibuprofen and a paracervical block at the time of laminaria insertion. Those in the treatment group will receive an adjunctive TENS unit with specific instructions for use in the interval between laminaria insertion and dilation and evacuation the next day. TENS is a non-invasive, inexpensive, over-the-counter, nonpharmacologic option to relieve pain. All participants will be provided with 15 tabs of ibuprofen 200 mg for outpatient pain control after the procedure. Participants will be instructed to take 600-800 mg of ibuprofen with food every 6 hours as needed for pain during the time period after laminaria insertion and before dilation and evacuation surgery, which is generally less than 24 hours.

Interventions

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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) unit

All participants in this study will receive the standard of care, which includes oral ibuprofen and a paracervical block at the time of laminaria insertion. Those in the treatment group will receive an adjunctive TENS unit with specific instructions for use in the interval between laminaria insertion and dilation and evacuation the next day. TENS is a non-invasive, inexpensive, over-the-counter, nonpharmacologic option to relieve pain. All participants will be provided with 15 tabs of ibuprofen 200 mg for outpatient pain control after the procedure. Participants will be instructed to take 600-800 mg of ibuprofen with food every 6 hours as needed for pain during the time period after laminaria insertion and before dilation and evacuation surgery, which is generally less than 24 hours.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Placebo

Participants in the placebo group will be given a TENS unit without a battery with similar to the intervention group but will be advised that they may or may not feel a sensation from the electrodes. All participants will be provided with 15 tabs of ibuprofen 200 mg for outpatient pain control after the procedure. Participants will be instructed to take 600-800 mg of ibuprofen with food every 6 hours as needed for pain during the time period after laminaria insertion and before dilation and evacuation surgery, which is generally less than 24 hours.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients undergoing laminaria insertion for D\&E procedure
* Age 18 years or older
* Capability and willingness to send and receive SMS messages by phone and complete web-based surveys
* Capability to read and understand directions for using a TENS unit
* Capability to operate a TENS unit according to provided directions

Exclusion Criteria

* Inability to complete the informed consent in English
* Exposure to adjunctive pharmacologic cervical preparation (misoprostol or mifepristone) within 48 hours of the D\&E procedure
* Contraindication to ibuprofen or bupivacaine
* Contraindication to TENS, including cardiac pacemakers, epilepsy, bleeding disorders, cancer, and concurrent use near transdermal drug delivery systems
* Previous participation in this trial
* Prior use of TENS unit
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Hawaii Foundation

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Queen's Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Melissa Natavio, MD, MPH

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Complex Family Planning, The Queens Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Womens Health

Locations

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1380 Lusitana St. Ste 1004

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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RA-2024-018

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id