[Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in obstetrics].

Labour pains have been influenced by TENS (electrodes placed at Th10 to L2) in 78 women (control group comprising 46 women) during delivery. No electrostimulation of the sacral segments was carried through. The two groups were comparable well because of similarities in their age, the babies' size at birth and equal conditions during delivery. The first TENS effect observed was a marked reduction of duration of labour with no increase in pathological cardiotocographic findings. With TENS applied, primiparae have been delivered after an average of 244 minutes (control group after 358 minutes) and multiparae after 159 minutes (control group after 256 minutes). 87 per cent of the TENS group's labour and 61 per cent of the control group's labour were induced. Using TENS, clearly reduced amounts of spasmolytic agents (44:74 per cent) had to be administered during labour. 41 per cent of the TENS group women suffered episiotomy or laceration (control group: 52 per cent). 80 per cent of the women in whom TENS had been applied considered TENS as facilitating childbirth. 68.4 per cent of the primipara TENS group (control group: 18.2 per cent) and 80 per cent of te multipara TENS group (control group: 25 per cent) indicated the labour pains to be absolutely endurable (with TENS applied, the labour pains did not start until about 15 minutes prior to delivery--lack of sacral electrodes?). However, the experience gathered as well as an assessment of the questionnaires filled in, indicate that, with all the technical equipment available, women in labour expect the medical staff to provide them with care, understanding and personal devotion.