Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: Each patient cohort was randomly subdivided into three treatment groups: TENS, placebo TENS and control. The effectiveness of TENS was assessed by two factors: the time from the beginning of treatment to the request for further analgesia and the total medication intake during the first 12 hours after operation. RESULTS: Whereas posterolateral thoracotomy produced severe pain, muscle-sparing thoracotomy, costotomy, and sternotomy caused moderate pain, and video-assisted thoracoscopy caused only mild pain. The TENS treatment was not effective in the posterolateral thoracotomy group, but it was useful as an adjunct to other medications in the muscle-sparing thoracotomy, costotomy, and sternotomy groups. In contrast, representing the only pain control treatment with no adjunct drugs, it was very effective in patients having video-assisted thoracoscopy. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | F Benedetti, M Amanzio, C Casadio, A Cavallo, R Cianci, R Giobbe, M Mancuso, E Ruffini, G Maggi |
Journal | The Annals of thoracic surgery
(Ann Thorac Surg)
Vol. 63
Issue 3
Pg. 773-6
(Mar 1997)
ISSN: 0003-4975 [Print] Netherlands |
PMID | 9066400
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Topics |
- Endoscopy
- Humans
- Pain, Postoperative
(therapy)
- Ribs
(surgery)
- Sternum
(surgery)
- Thoracic Surgery
- Thoracoscopy
- Thoracotomy
- Time Factors
- Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
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