The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain During Venous Cannulation

The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain During Venous Cannulation

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) could reduce pain during cannulation of vein.

One hundred patients were allocated randomly to two groups: In the active TENS group TENS was delivered via two electrodes on the venous cannulation site (radial side of the wrist of dominant forearm) 20 min prior to venous cannulation and control group received placebo (no current) TENS. Venous cannulation with a 22 gage cannula was performed. During venous cannulation the pain intensity (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable) was measured. Any side effects during study periods were recorded

Inclusion Criteria:

• outpatients who underwent plastic surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• concomitant sedative or analgesic medication,
• neurological disease.
• all patients with potentially dangerous internal diseases (American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical status > 3).