Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for postlaparotomy pain.

This study was designed to evaluate the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) postoperative program administered by a physical therapy department. A surgeon, a physical therapist, a recovery room nurse, and unit nurses participated in the program which included preoperative evaluation and patient education, application of sterile electrodes parallel to the incision in the operating room, TENS activation in the recovery room, follow-up visits, and data collection. Seventy-five patients who underwent laparotomy and received TENS at the most comfortable machine settings were compared by chart review to 75 patients who had undergone similar surgical procedures performed by the same surgeon before TENS postoperative pain management had been instituted. The TENS was applied for an average of five days; machine settings of intensity, frequency, and pulse width tended to be midrange. The TENS group took significantly less pain medication, but the length of hospital stay was not significantly different. Patients with TENS rated their pain on 10-point scales as more intense than uncomfortable. This study demonstrated that a well-structured interdisciplinary program of postoperative TENS management can reduce the amount of pain medication taken by patients after laparotomy.

Air pressure splint effects on hand symptoms of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Thirty patients with symptomatic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of both hands were treated with an air pressure splint. Evaluations were made by measuring ring size, hand volume, range and rate of finger motions, grip strength and degree of pain and stiffness. One hand was randomly assigned to the treatment group while the other served as a control. Patients received the air splint treatment for 5 consecutive days. Data were analyzed by a 2-factor repeated analysis of variance to determine the effectiveness of 1 treatment, the cumulative effect of 5 treatments, the effect of the 5th treatment, and whether the results after the 1st treatment lasted until the 5th treatment. All measurements except hand volume significantly improved with the 1st treatment. Furthermore, the beneficial effects persisted throughout the treatment period. These data indicate the air splint treatment is effective in reducing swelling and other symptoms of RA in the hands.