Evaluating efficacy and feasibility of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for postoperative pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A randomized pilot trial

•This study evaluated transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.•The use of TENS did not decrease pain scores during the first and second 24 h.•TENS decreased pain medication use (P = .005) between the first and second 24 h.

BackgroundTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been applied for pain relief after surgical procedures. This study evaluated whether TENS after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), in addition to opioid administration, decreased postoperative pain and pain medication use.MethodsIn a controlled trial, 56 patients scheduled to undergo VATS were randomly assigned to TENS plus opioids (Group 1) or opioids alone (Group 2) for 48 h.ResultsForty patients completed the study. Pain scores and use of oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) were not significantly different between the groups during the first and second 24 h. A decreased use of OMEs between the first and second 24 h was significant for Group 1 (P = .005) but not for Group 2 (P = .11); a decreased use of OMEs between groups was not significant (P = .35).ConclusionsA larger, well-powered clinical trial is indicated to evaluate the effects of TENS for pain control after a VATS procedure.Clinical Trial No.: NCT01046695.