Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: May | Volume: 9 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 167-172
Effect of Conventional Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) at Intercostal Chest Drain (ICD) Site in Patients with Pleural Effusion on Pain, Dyspnea and Chest Expansion
Rinkle Parmar1, Prajakta Sahasrabudhe2, Ashok K. Shyam3, Parag K. Sancheti4
1BPTh, Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
2MPTh, Assistant professor, Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
3MS.Ortho, Research Officer, Sancheti Institute for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
4MS.Ortho, Chairman, Sancheti Institute for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Corresponding Author: Prajakta Sahasrabudhe
ABSTRACT
Background: Pleural effusion is excessive accumulation of fluid in the pleural space and is generally caused due to underlying medical condition. Managing pleural effusion includes medical management and also pleural fluid drainage by thoracentesis or chest drains. Intercostal Chest drains (ICD) are painful as the parietal pleura are very sensitive to pain. Hypoventilation occurs because of pain and muscle guarding at ICD site. Therefore, it is important to emphasize on pain relief and expansion.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find additional effect of (TENS) at ICD site combined with traditional physiotherapy on pain, Dyspnea and Chest expansion in pleural effusion patients.
Methods: The randomized control trial included 40 participants diagnosed with pleural effusion and with chest drain inserted. The participants were randomly allocated into Control group (receiving Traditional physiotherapy) and Experimental group (receiving Conventional TENS at ICD site with two electrodes in addition to Traditional physiotherapy) once a day for 5 days. After allocation baseline measures of pain and dyspnea on 10 point Visual analogue scale (VAS) and chest expansion at 4th intercostal space with centimeter tape were taken.
Results: The results of the study showed that there was significant improvement in TENS plus traditional therapy group on pain (p< 0.001), dyspnea (p<0.001) and chest expansion (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Study concludes that TENS when used in combination with traditional physiotherapy shows better results while treating pain, dyspnea and chest expansion in patients with pleural effusion managed by chest drains.
Key words: Pleural effusion, Intercostal chest drains, pain, dyspnea, Chest expansion, TENS