The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Patients After Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery

The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain, Nausea, Vomiting, and Quality of Recovery in Patients After Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study is designed to evaluate the effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on pain, nausea, vomiting, and quality of recovery in patients undergoing Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS). This prospective, randomized controlled trial, designed as a two-group study, will be conducted at the Department of Urology, Yozgat Bozok University Health Practice and Research Center between September 2025 and September 2026. A total of 72 patients who underwent RIRC and met the inclusion criteria will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups: an intervention group receiving TENS (n=36) and a control group without TENS (n=36). Pain levels, frequency of nausea and vomiting, and quality of recovery in both groups will be compared within the first 24 hours postoperatively. This study is expected to provide evidence-based data on the effectiveness of TENS, a non-pharmacological method, in symptom management after RIRS.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants who have undergone RIRS will be included in our study. Eligibility criteria include being between 18 and 70 years of age,
• Participants having an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification of I or II,
• Participants must have sufficient cognitive function and language skills to proceed with the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria include the presence of a painful condition (e.g., inflammatory rheumatic disease, lumbar muscle degeneration, lumbar disc protrusion with back pain, acute or chronic nephritis, and pyelonephritis),
• Major organ system disease,
• Participants with pacemakers,
• Participants using analgesic medications or those with a history of significant drug abuse,
• Those with uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes or malignancies, a history of epilepsy, pregnancy, and breastfeeding,
• Participants in other clinical trials will also be excluded (Mora et al., 2007; Tu et al., 2019).