Failure of naloxone to reverse peripheral transcutaneous electro-analgesia in patients suffering from acute trauma.

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the intercostal nerves innervating the site of fractured ribs in 6 patients produced subjective and clinical evidence of decrease in the pain experienced by the patients. This analgesia was not significantly modified by naloxone, a pure narcotic antagonist. The possible role of endogenous morphine-like substances in peripheral electro-analgesia in man is discussed.