Does transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduce the laparoscopic related shoulder pain?

• Published in: Obstetrics & gynecology science Vol. 67; no. 1; pp. 94 - 100
• Main Authors: Abolfazl Mehdizadeh Kasha, Sepideh Khodaverdi, Azam Govahi, Saeedeh Sarhadi, Mania Kaveh, Kambiz Sadegi, Roya Derakhshan, Marziyeh Ajdary, Shahla Chaichian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한산부인과학회 30-01-2024
• Subjects: Laparoscopy; Shoulder pain; TENS
• ISSN: 2287-8572

Objective
Although laparoscopic surgery is a good substitute for laparotomy in reducing postsurgical pain, many patients complain of shoulder pain after laparoscopic surgery and require pain-relief. Post-operative pain management leads to increased patient satisfaction. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological, noninvasive modality that reduces pain by activating the descending inhibitory systems in the central nervous system. Given the importance of decreasing shoulder pain after gynecological laparoscopy, the current study aimed to
investigate the management of shoulder pain in these patients using TENS.
Methods
This was a retrospective case-control study. A total of 112 women aged 18-45 years who experienced shoulder pain due to gynecologic laparoscopic surgery were included in the study. Patients were divided into TENS and control groups. In the TENS group, TENS was used twice for 20 minutes each, but in the control group, the patients received regular treatment. Patients were evaluated at intervals of 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours after laparoscopy for shoulder pain score.
Results
The results showed a significant decrease in visual analog scale scores at 2, 4, and 8-hour in the TENS group compared with the control group. At 24 hours evaluation, although the pain was reduced, the difference was not significant. At 48- and 72-hour assessment, all patients in each group reported zero score for severity of pain.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that TENS significantly reduces postoperative shoulder pain.