Torakotomi sonrası uygulanan transkütan elektriksel sinir stimülasyonunun ağrı üzerine etkisi

Abstract

The study has been conducted to investigate the effect of transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) implementation on pain and analgesics consumption of patients undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy as a randomly controlled basis. The study has been conducted in thoracic surgery clinic of Gazi University Health Research and Implementation Hospital between the months March and June, 2013. Sample of this study consisted of 40 patients (control group: 20, experimental group: 20). To the patients in experimental group, TENS has been implemented from 24th hour to 72nd hour, three times a day in every four hour for 30 minutes periods; from 72nd hour till the chest drain tubes have been taken of, twice a day in every 12 hours, for 30 minutes periods. TENS implementation has not been conducted to the control group. Pain levels and analgesics consumption in both groups have been recorded as 24,48,72,96, and 120th hours after thoracotomy. The data has been evaluated with chi-square, Fisher exact chi-square test, Student-t, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis tests, correlation analysis, number, average, percentage. According to the results gathered from the research, the level of pain and consumption of opioid and nonopioid analgesics on the experimental group are lower than those of control group on 24,48,72,96, and 120th hours during their resting and coughing after thoracotomy. Consequently, the implementation of TENS on patients undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy has decreased the level of pain and the consumption of analgesics.