Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was designed to evaluate the effect of TENS on pain and pulmonary function of post-lobectomy patients with lung cancer.
METHODS
The study data collection was done from February 4, 2008 to February 7, 2009. The subjects were assigned at random to the experimental group and control group with 20 subjects in each group. The experimental group was measured for pain and pulmonary function after surgery and then again after applying TENS 100 Hz frequency and 40 mA output for 20 minutes. The control group was measured the same as the experimental group except applying sham TENS.
RESULTS
The pain score of the experimental group which had TENS applied revealed that there were more significant reductions than the control group which had sham TENS applied. There was no significant difference with the number of times of receiving analgesics between the experimental and control group. The effect of TENS on pulmonary function was significantly different between the experimental group and the control group on VC 2 hours after surgery. There was no significant difference between FVC and FEV1.
CONCLUSION
The findings of the study indicate that the TENS is effective in easing the pain of patients after a lobectomy.

• Keywords: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Pain; Pulmonary function