Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Postoperative Pain and Patient Satisfaction.

Background And Aims: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on postoperative pain, changes in patients' vital signs, and patient satisfaction after inguinal herniorrhaphy.

Design: This study used a randomized controlled design.

Setting: A state hospital in the west of Turkey.

Participants/subjects: The study was conducted on 52 patients who had inguinal herniorrhaphy between January and July 2015.

Methods: Patients were randomly divided into two groups (intervention and control). Intervention group patients received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation postoperatively five times for 30 minutes each. Electrodes in control group patients were placed, but the device was not started. At each transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation session, the patients' vital signs and pain severity were recorded. A satisfaction scale was administered before discharge to assess patient satisfaction with nursing care.

Results: Pain scores of patients in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group (p < .05). No differences were found in pre-and post-transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the vital signs. Satisfaction scores were higher in the intervention group than control group (p < .05).

Conclusions: After inguinal herniorrhaphy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduced postoperative pain without a negative impact on vital signs and increased patient satisfaction with nursing care.