Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
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Ann R Coll Surg Engl · Jul 1986
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation following appendicectomy: the placebo effect.
A controlled trial was undertaken to compare the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with standard intramuscular opiate analgesia in the management of postoperative pain following appendicectomy. Consecutive patients undergoing emergency appendicectomy were randomised into control, sham TENS and active TENS groups. ⋯ No difference was demonstrated in pain severity between active and sham TENS groups but the active TENS group required slightly less analgesia. These results suggest that the major benefit of TENS in the postappendicectomy patient is due to its 'placebo effect' and its use in this situation cannot be recommended.
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Ann R Coll Surg Engl · Mar 1985
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialTranscutaneous electrical stimulation for postoperative pain.
A prospective randomised trial was conducted to assess transcutaneous electrical stimulation in the management of postoperative pain and its effect on postoperative pulmonary function and respiratory complications. Consecutive patients undergoing abdominal surgery were allocated to receive transcutaneous electrical stimulation or 'sham' therapy. ⋯ There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative chest infection. These results do not support the use of transcutaneous electrical stimulation following abdominal surgery.
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Ann R Coll Surg Engl · Sep 1984
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEvaluation of anti-emetics in association with intrathecal diamorphine.
Intrathecal diamorphine is associated with a high incidence of emetic symptoms. Six anti-emetic drugs representing various chemical groups were given in random order to patients undergoing total hip replacement and who had received intrathecal diamorphine 0.5-1.0 mg. The phenothiazines, perphenazine and prochlorperazine, were more effective than the others. It is suggested that this might be a useful model for the evaluation of new anti-emetics.
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Ann R Coll Surg Engl · Nov 1983
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPost-thoracotomy pain relief: combined use of cryoprobe and morphine infusion techniques.
In a reported study we found that freezing of the intercostal nerves under direct vision at thoracotomy provided better postoperative analgesia than im morphine on demand. Infusions of morphine were also more effective than when used by the intramuscular route. ⋯ Further studies were carried out to evaluate the benefit of combining 'cryoprobe' analgesia with infusions of morphine. The combined use of morphine infusion and a cryoprobe did not produce greater postoperative pain relief than the use of the cryoprobe alone with im morphine on demand.