Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Mastectomy Pain, Patient Satisfaction, and Patient Outcomes.

PURPOSE

Mastectomy is one of the most painful surgical procedures. Postoperative pain guidelines recommend transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as a reliable non-pharmacological analgesic method. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TENS on postoperative pain and outcomes in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy (MRM).

DESIGN

A single-center, single-blind, prospective, randomized-controlled study.

METHODS

This single-center, single-blind, randomized-controlled study included a total of 80 patients who underwent MRM at general surgery clinic of a tertiary center were included. The pain management of the patient outcomes were evaluated using the Turkish Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire (APS-POQ-R-TR).

FINDINGS

The pain levels of the intervention group were lower than the control group. There were significant improvements in the patient outcomes such as mobilization, position, sleep, anxiety, and fear in the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study results suggest that TENS reduces MRM pain. Thus, TENS can be recommended as a useful analgesic method in MRM.