Analgesic effect of transcutaneous cranial electrostimulation in patients treated by Nd:YAG laser for cancer of the rectum. a double-blind randomized trial
Naveau, S.; Barritault, L.; Zourabichvili, O.; Champagne, C.; Prieur, G.; Limoge, A.; Poynard, T.; Chaput, J.C.
Gastroenterologie Clinique et Biologique 16(1): 8-11
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0399-8320 PMID: 1537485 Document Number: 390202
The aim of this double blind cross-over randomized trial was to assess if transcutaneous cranial electrical stimulation by Limoge current could decrease the dose of fentanyl required in patients with rectal cancer treated by Nd:YAG laser. Fifty patients, 29 women, 21 men, 78 +/- 10 years old (range: 53-96 years), were treated by 2 laser sessions with an interval of 48 hours between each session. Active and sham electrostimulation were given in random order for the 2 laser sessions. The major end point was the quantity of fentanyl injected when the score of pain was greater than or equal to 5 according to a visual analgesic scale. Age, sex, body weight, tumor location and length, tumor circumferential extent and luminal patency, duration of laser session, amount of energy delivered per session (watt-seconds), and number of patients with deep sedation did not differ between the 2 groups. There was no interaction between the order of treatments and the treatments. The mean quantity of fentanyl was 29 micrograms and 42 micrograms when sham electrostimulation was given. There was a decrease of 31 percent in the quantity of fentanyl with active electrostimulation (P less than 0.05). Results were not affected either by the treatment order nor by tumor location. There were no side effects in either group.