Perioperative Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (pTEAS) in Pain Management

Introduction

Pain management is crucial in perioperative care, aiming to minimize discomfort and promote faster recovery. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is an innovative technique that utilizes low-frequency electrical currents applied to specific acupoints on the body's surface. In recent years, perioperative TEAS, known as pTEAS, has gained attention for its potential to enhance pain relief and reduce the need for opioids and other analgesics. This article explores the principles behind pTEAS, its effectiveness in pain management, and its implications for perioperative care.

What Are the Principles of Perioperative Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation?

pTEAS is based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture principles. It involves the application of electrical stimulation to selected acupoints using adhesive electrodes. The low-frequency electrical currents generated by the device penetrate the skin and modulate the peripheral and central nervous systems. This stimulation promotes the release of endogenous opioids, such as endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins, which are natural pain-relieving substances in the body. Furthermore, pTEAS can modulate the autonomic nervous system, reducing sympathetic activity and promoting parasympathetic dominance, thereby inducing a relaxation response.

What Is Perioperative Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Effectiveness in Pain Management?

Numerous studies have investigated the effectiveness of pTEAS in perioperative pain management. These studies consistently demonstrate that pTEAS can reduce pain intensity and analgesic requirements effectively. By stimulating the body's natural pain-relieving mechanisms, pTEAS offers a non-invasive and drug-free alternative or adjunct to traditional analgesic methods.

In a randomized controlled trial conducted on patients undergoing abdominal surgery, pTEAS significantly reduced postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption compared to a control group. Another study exploring the use of pTEAS for postoperative pain in total knee arthroplasty found similar results, with reduced pain scores and decreased analgesic use in the pTEAS group. Furthermore, pTEAS has shown promising results in managing acute and chronic pain conditions, such as labor pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and cancer-related pain.

pTEAS in pain management demonstrates strong effectiveness in perioperative care, with consistent findings of reduced pain intensity, decreased analgesic use, enhanced patient satisfaction, faster postoperative recovery, and potential cost savings, making it a valuable adjunct or alternative to traditional analgesic methods.

What Are the Advantages of Perioperative Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation?

• Non-Invasive and Drug-Free: pTEAS provides a non-invasive and drug-free approach to pain management. It avoids the potential risks and side effects of pharmacological interventions, such as opioid-related respiratory depression, sedation, and gastrointestinal complications. This makes pTEAS a safer alternative or adjunct to traditional analgesic methods.

• Reduced Analgesic Requirements: By stimulating the body's natural pain-relieving mechanisms, pTEAS can significantly reduce the need for opioids and other analgesics. This is particularly important in the current opioid crisis, as pTEAS can help minimize opioid dependence and related complications.

• Easy Administration: pTEAS is relatively simple to administer and can be performed by healthcare professionals or even self-administered by patients. The adhesive electrodes are applied to specific acupoints, and the electrical stimulation can be adjusted based on individual needs. The ease of administration makes pTEAS suitable for various clinical settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and home care.

• Portability and Convenience: pTEAS devices are portable and can be used anywhere, providing convenience for patients. This allows continuous pain management during hospital stays, outpatient visits, and at home. Patients can easily incorporate pTEAS into their daily routine, promoting consistent pain relief and better overall outcomes.

• Well-Tolerated and Safe: pTEAS is generally well-tolerated by patients, with minimal discomfort or adverse effects reported during and after the sessions. The electrical stimulation is typically mild and comfortable, ensuring patient compliance and satisfaction. Additionally, pTEAS has a favorable safety profile, enhancing its attractiveness as a pain management option.

• Cost-Effective: Implementing pTEAS as part of perioperative care can have cost-saving benefits. By reducing pain intensity, opioid consumption, and associated complications, pTEAS can lead to shorter hospital stays, decreased healthcare costs, and improved resource allocation.

What Are the Implications of Perioperative Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation?

Using perioperative pTEAS has significant implications for patients and healthcare providers involved in perioperative care.

• Enhanced Patient Satisfaction: By reducing pain intensity and providing effective pain relief, pTEAS can significantly enhance patient satisfaction. Patients experience less discomfort, better sleep quality, and a faster return to normal activities, leading to a positive surgical experience. Improved patient satisfaction contributes to better patient outcomes and strengthens the patient-provider relationship.

• Improved Postoperative Recovery: Effective pain management is crucial for postoperative recovery. pTEAS can contribute to faster recovery by minimizing pain, facilitating early mobilization, and promoting a positive mindset. Reduced pain and quicker recovery lead to shorter hospital stays, allowing healthcare facilities to optimize bed utilization and allocate resources more efficiently.

• Reduced Healthcare Costs: By reducing the need for opioids and other analgesics, pTEAS can help lower healthcare costs associated with perioperative care. Decreased medication use translates into reduced pharmaceutical expenses and fewer complications related to opioid use, such as respiratory depression and gastrointestinal issues. Furthermore, shorter hospital stays resulting from improved pain management contribute to cost savings for patients and healthcare facilities.

• Multimodal Analgesia Optimization: pTEAS can be integrated into multimodal analgesia protocols, which combine different methods to provide complete pain relief. By incorporating pTEAS into perioperative care, healthcare providers can optimize pain management strategies, reduce reliance on opioids, and minimize opioid-related complications. This approach supports a more holistic and personalized approach to pain management.

• Potential to Address the Opioid Crisis: The current opioid crisis has highlighted the need for alternative pain management options. pTEAS offers a non-pharmacological approach that can help reduce opioid dependence and related complications. Integrating pTEAS into perioperative care aligns with the larger goal of addressing the opioid crisis by promoting safer and more sustainable pain management practices.

Conclusion

pTEAS holds significant promise in pain management. pTEAS enhances patient satisfaction, promotes faster postoperative recovery, and reduces healthcare costs by providing non-invasive, drug-free pain relief. Its integration into multimodal analgesia protocols optimizes pain management strategies while addressing the opioid crisis by minimizing the reliance on opioids. With its effectiveness, convenience, and safety, pTEAS offers a valuable addition to perioperative care, improving patient outcomes and surgical experiences. Further research and implementation of pTEAS can further advance perioperative pain management practices.