Endoscopy
DOI: 10.1055/a-2373-0513
Innovations and brief communications

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Based on Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture Theory for Pain Relief during Non-Anesthetic Colonoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

fanfu fang
1   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN12520)
,
2   College of Health Sciences and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN47863)
3   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changhai Hospital, shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN12520)
,
Hao Wang
4   Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN12520)
,
Lei Shi
5   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changhai Hospital, shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN12520)
,
Li-Fan Xu
6   Sports and Health Institute, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN66315)
7   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changhai Hospital, shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN12520)
,
Can Lv
8   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changhai Hospital, shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN12520)
,
Wen-Juan Song
9   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changhai Hospital, shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN12520)
,
Le-Le Huang
10   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changhai Hospital, shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN12520)
2   College of Health Sciences and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN47863)
,
Fei-Hu Yan
4   Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN12520)
,
Ping Shi
2   College of Health Sciences and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN47863)
,
Meng-Cheng Cai
11   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chinese People's Liberation Army Naval Medical Center, shanghai, China (Ringgold ID: RIN159343)
› Author Affiliations
Supported by: Shanghai Shenkang Hospital Development Center Medical Enterprise Integration and Transformation Special Project SHDC2022CRD004
Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China NSFC62371300
Supported by: Military high-level scientific and technological innovation talent project [2020]NQ06128

Clinical Trial: Registration number (trial ID): ChiCTR2300076524, Trial registry: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org/), Type of Study: prospective randomized controlled study

Background: Colonoscopy is essential for diagnosing colorectal diseases but can cause pain during the procedure. This study explores the analgesic effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation based on Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture theory (TENS-WAA) in non-anesthetic colonoscopy. Methods: This prospective study included 120 participants undergoing non-anesthetic colonoscopies. The trial group receiving low-frequency, high-intensity TENS-WAA adjusted to the maximum tolerable current, while the control group received minimal current. Primary outcome was the retrospective pain VAS score. Secondary outcomes included time, heart rate, and credibility/expectancy questionnaire (CEQ) scores (ChiCTR2300076524). Results: Participants who received TENS-WAA intervention reported significantly lower pain VAS scores than the control group (estimated median difference -1.1, 95% CI: -2 to -0.4, P=0.002). Male participants in the trial group experienced significantly lower pain scores than the control group (mean difference -1.4, 95% CI: -2.41 to -0.39, P=0.008). Additionally, the trial group also had significantly lower heart rates (P<0.001) and higher CEQ scores (P=0.001) than the control group. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: TENS-WAA effectively reduces pain during non-anesthetized colonoscopy, especially in male participants, providing a promising non-invasive analgesic method.



Publication History

Received: 15 February 2024

Accepted after revision: 24 July 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
25 July 2024

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