The effect of TENS applied in colorectal surgery on bowel function, pain, and analgesic consumption

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of TENS applied in colorectal surgery on bowel function, pain, and analgesic consumption. This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial at the General Surgery Department of Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine Balcalı Hospital between January 2024 and March 2025, with two groups: TENS and control. Data collection forms, including the Patient and Surgical Information Form (PSIF), Numerical Pain Scale (NPS), and Bowel Function Information Form (BFIF), were used to include 78 colorectal surgery patients in the study. The TENS group received TENS for 30 minutes via electrodes placed 2-3 cm away from the incision site, and pain assessment was repeated 1 hour after the procedure. Bowel functions were also monitored at each stage of pain assessment and afterwards. In the control group, bowel function and pain were assessed at the same time points as in the TENS group. Analgesic consumption was monitored in both groups for 48 hours. The study was registered in the Clinical Trials database under protocol number "NCT06480318". A significant difference was determined between the TENS and control groups following the procedure in all interventions (p<0.05), and the pain levels of the TENS group were considerible lower. And also a significant difference was found in repeated measurements of both groups. There was less analgesic use and significantly lower opioid consumption in the TENS group on day 2 (p=0.041). In addition, shortened the time to first flatus, defecation, as did the transition to oral intake, and the rate of nausea and vomiting in the first 24 hours was lower (p<0.05) in this group. The results of our study show that applying TENS around the incision improves bowel function by reducing pain and analgesic consumption, as well as creating a massage effect through its vibrations. TENS may be recommended as an effective analgesic method in colorectal surgery.