Effects of TENS in Patients Admitted to the ICU After Cardiac Surgery

Effects of TENS Application in Patients Admitted to the ICU After Cardiac Surgery: a Randomized Double-blind Clinical Trial

Cardiac Surgery (CH) aims to increase survival and improve quality of life in eligible cardiac patients. However, as with any invasive intervention, pain is one of the main complaints of patients in the post-surgical period. This research is justified by the evaluation of the potential impact of the use of TENS as an alternative for analgesia in reducing the length of hospital stay and directly in the effective cost of patients undergoing cardiac surgeries, in reducing morbidity and mortality, as well as in the quality of life and early return to their daily activities, in addition to reducing the use of drugs and potentially their side effects. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of TENS for analgesia in hospitalized patients undergoing cardiac surgery, investigating its efficacy, safety and impact on postoperative recovery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients of both sexes
• over 18 years of age,
• undergoing elective cardiac surgery,
• who have a sternotomy access route,
• with or without the use of pleural or mediastinal drains,
• after the first postoperative day will be selected.

Exclusion Criteria:

• with unstable angina,
• patients with arrhythmias,
• whether symptomatic or asymptomatic,
• with changes in the level of consciousness and cognition that may interfere with the assessment,
• use of metal implants,
• pacemakers and implantable cardioverter (ICD),
• those who presented postoperative complications such as infection in the sternotomy