Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Based on Wrist-ankle Acupuncture Theory on Postoperative Pain After Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Based on Wrist-ankle Acupuncture Theory on Postoperative Pain After Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

At present, surgical resection remains one of the main methods for the radical treatment of lung cancer. Compared with traditional thoracotomy, Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) offers obvious advantages, such as less surgical trauma and rapid postoperative recovery. However, a certain proportion of patients will still experience moderate to severe pain after undergoing VATS. Postoperative acute pain can lead to increased postoperative pulmonary complications, prolonged hospital stays, and increased treatment costs. Additionally, it is also associated with the development of postoperative chronic pain. Therefore, effective pain management after VATS is crucial.

Researchers will compare Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) based on Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture theory (TENS-WAA) with a sham stimulation regimen to determine whether TENS-WAA can relieve postoperative pain in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung resection. This study aims to enrich the existing postoperative analgesia schemes and provide a reliable basis for its clinical promotion.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged over 18 years
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of I-III
• Patients scheduled for elective unilateral lobectomy via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer under general anesthesia
• Informed consent signed

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of liver, kidney, heart, lung, or brain disease
• Psychiatric disorder or cognitive impairment
• Chronic pain, daily use of analgesics, or alcohol dependence
• Routine or recent acupuncture treatment
• Contraindications to TENS (with pacemaker or metallic implants, allergy to surface electrodes, with skin sensory disorders, skin ulceration, unhealed scars, or adhesions)