Comparison of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Paravertebral Block for Postthoracotomy XXXX Relief.

@entity1 @entity1340 @entity260 @entity158 @entity282 @entity616
BACKGROUND: Inadequate relief of @entity158 is a major reason of increased occurrence of @entity260 . We aimed to investigate and compare the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and @entity616 ( @entity616 ) to relieve @entity158 after thoracotomy procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 40 @entity1 who underwent thoracotomy. @entity1 were randomly allocated to receive either @entity616 (group P, n   =   20) or TENS (group T, n   =   20) for @entity282 . The electrodes of TENS were placed 2 cm under and 2 cm over the thoracotomy cut on both posterior and anterior sides. The surgeon inserted paravertebral catheters using direct vision at the end of the surgery. A @entity1 -controlled analgesia (PCA) device was connected to all @entity1 . Visual analog scales, @entity1 demand, and consumption of @entity1340 were evaluated postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean visual analog scale (VAS) values were significantly lower in group P for all time points. The @entity1 in group P needed lower amounts of opioid ( @entity1340 ) and the difference was statistically significant (258.4        13.52   mg vs. 314.4        8.65   mg, p   =   0.005). In addition, the number of demand attempts recorded from the PCA device was significantly lower in group P (14.95        13.64 vs. 26.7        17.34, respectively and p   <   0.001). CONCLUSION: TENS has beneficial effects for @entity158 relief after thoracotomy, without any side effects; however, it cannot provide sufficient @entity158 relief when compared with @entity616 .
