USE OF THE TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (TENS) IN CONTROL OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that cause significant impact on the quality of life cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of TENS in controlling nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy. Methods: We performed an exploratory quantitative study of experimental blind randomized clinical trial with 83 patients with antineoplastic drugs classified as medium and high emetogenic degree. Were divided into two groups: in one group, classified as intervention, electro stimulation was performed with TENS for 30 minutes with a frequency of 10 Hz to 500 mS pulse width with varying intensity, which was increased according to the tolerance of the patient from the point P6. In the other group, the control, patients suffered a simulation of electrical stimulation at zero frequency. Was performed electro stimulation during chemotherapy session. The symptoms and the amount of administered antiemetics at home were valued in the first two consecutive days of chemotherapy. The intensity of nausea was quantified by visual analog scale. The patient was instructed to write down the number of episodes of vomiting and antiemetic amount administered. Results: The average amount of nausea on the day of chemotherapy, vomiting on the day of chemotherapy and the next day following day and the amount of antiemetic taken at home in those first two days was significantly lower in the group of intervention. Conclusion: TENS showed a complementary effective in controlling nausea and vomiting.