The investigators will test the hypothesis that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may attenuate peripheral vasoconstriction and to improve blood flow redistribution during handgrip exercise in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients after Coronary Arterial Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG).
Thirty-eight patients will be randomized to a (4 times/day; 30 min/session) for 5-day program of TENS (n = 20) or to placebo-TENS (P-TENS, n = 18) applied on cervical region (C7-T4). Acute sympathetic stimulation by cold pressor test (CPT), Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), Femoral blood flow (FBF) and femoral vascular conductance (FVC) will be measured as primary outcome pre and post-CABG, even as the 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength (PImax and PEmax) and β-endorphin as a secondary clinical parameters. In addition, amount of opioid analgesic and pain intensity also will be measured throughout at first 24 hours after CABG (immediately, 6, 12 and 24 hours).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
38
Patients will be treated with conventional TENS (ENDOMED 684 Device, ENRAF-Nonius B.V., Rotterdam, Netherlands) for 5 days (4 times/day; 30 min/session) applied on cervical region (C7-T4). TENS intervention was applied as described elsewhere.
Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Blood flow redistribution - baseline and 5 days later
The ultrasound Doppler system will be equipped with two linear array transducers operating at an imaging frequency of 7- 8 megahertz (MHz). The common femoral artery of the left leg will be insonated distal to the inguinal ligament, 2-3 cm proximal to the bifurcation. Using femoral artery diameter and mean blood velocity (MBF), femoral blood flow (FBF) was calculated as MBF π x (vessel diameter/2)2 x 60. Femoral vascular resistance (FVR) and femoral vascular conductance (FVC) were calculated as (MBP/FBF) and (FBF/MBP \* 100 mm Hg), the conductance multiplied by 100 mmHg so that the conductance units will be similar to the units of femoral blood flow (10, 45). The magnitude of reduction FVC (expressed in %) was calculated as vascular conductance during exercise (% change) - conductance at rest (% change) expressed by % of baseline.
Time frame: 1 day
Inspiratory and Expiratory Muscle Function
Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength testing were performed using a pressure transducer (MVD-500 V.1.1 Micro Hard System, Global Med, Porto Alegre, Brazil). Maximal inspiratory (PImax), and maximal static expiratory pressure (PEmax) were measured as previously described.
Time frame: 5 day
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