Eletroestimulação transcutânea para alívio da dor no trabalho de parto: ensaio clínico randomizado.

Abstract

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive procedure for pain relief that is safe, easy to use and remove, without side effects and doesn’t affect pregnant conscientiousness. On the other hand, it doesn’t affect maternal mobility and fetal well-being when compared with other types of conventional analgesia. This study was originally an open randomized clinical trial with the objective to study women in labor submitted to TENS and a control group without this procedure. Notwithstanding, because of operational details and ethical difficulties, study design was modified to a descriptive study of case series analyzing only women in labor receiving TENS. TENS application during labor was a safe method with excellent maternal and perinatal outcomes. Cesarean rate was 6,9% and instrumental delivery less than 4% with no Apgar score below 7 in 5th minute and elevated levels of maternal satisfaction. Indeed, TENS utilization must be stimulated and we suggest that other studies have to be done to evaluate its effectiveness.