The purpose of this study was to investigate whether transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) could reduce pain during cannulation of vein.
One hundred patients were allocated randomly to two groups: In the active TENS group TENS was delivered via two electrodes on the venous cannulation site (radial side of the wrist of dominant forearm) 20 min prior to venous cannulation and control group received placebo (no current) TENS. Venous cannulation with a 22 gage cannula was performed. During venous cannulation the pain intensity (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable) was measured. Any side effects during study periods were recorded
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
100
In the active TENS group, TENS at 80 pulsed currents per second (PPS) with a pulse duration of 200 μs were delivered for 20 minutes. Current amplitude was slowly increased until a level was reached that participants reported was the maximum level they could tolerate below pain threshold without noticeable muscle contraction and maintained this intensity.
In the placebo group the TENS device had no current output although the power "on" indicator light remained active.
The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain during venous cannulation
One hundred patients were allocated randomly to two groups: In the active TENS group TENS was delivered via two electrodes on the venous cannulation site (radial side of the wrist of dominant forearm) 20 min prior to venous cannulation and control group received placebo (no current) TENS. Venous cannulation with a 22 gage cannula was performed. One minute after venous cannulation the pain intensity (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable) was measured. Any side effects during study periods were recorded
Time frame: one minute after cannulation
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