Use of Electroanalgesia in Pain and Pulmonary Function.

Role of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Pain Relief and Pulmonary Function in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

It is a consensus in the literature that changes in lifestyle and carbohydrate-rich diet are part of a context that has led to an obesity pandemic. Its treatment is multidisciplinary, however, in many cases, conventional therapy has no effect, requiring surgical intervention. The latter, in turn, is not free of risks and causes important changes in lung function. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of electroanalgesia through conventional transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) on pulmonary function in the postoperative period of bariatric surgery.

This is an uncontrolled cross-sectional clinical trial with a sample of 66 individuals between 18 and 50 years of age in a hospital in the West of Paraná. Pain assessment will be performed through analogue pain scale, pulmonary function through spirometry and respiratory muscle strength through manovacuometry. Four TENS applications will be performed for a period of 30 minutes. Through this research, it is expected that the patients who perform TENS present a reduction in postoperative pain and, consequently, a lower impact on lung function.

Inclusion Criteria:

• This research will include patients who are in the postoperative period of bariatric surgery and who are aged 18 years or over

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients over the age of 50;
• Individuals who present hemodynamic instability in the postoperative period;
• Use of mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours;
• Contraindications regarding the use of TENS (presence of a cardiac pacemaker, hypersensitivity regarding the use of TENS);
• Previous history of epilepsy;
• Pregnant women during the first trimester;
• Patients with a score, on the Glasgow coma scale (Appendix I), less than 15;
• Patients who choose to withdraw during the study.