Gastrointestinal endoscopy
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Gastrointest. Endosc. · Jun 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialFeasibility, safety, and effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation for decreasing post-ERCP pain: a randomized, sham-controlled, pilot study.
Emerging evidence shows that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a minimally invasive brain stimulation technique, has analgesic effects in chronic pain patients and in healthy volunteers with experimental pain. No studies have examined the analgesic effects of tDCS immediately after surgical/endoscopic procedures. Endoscopy investigating abdominal pain, especially ERCP, can cause significant postprocedural pain. ⋯ In this pilot study, tDCS appears to be safe, has minimal side effects, and may reduce postprocedural analgesia requirements and subjective pain ratings. Future studies appear warranted.