Efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation combined with epidural analgesia in parturients during natural childbirth

Abstract

Objective To investigate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) combined with epidural analgesia in parturients during natural childbirth. Methods Three hundred parturients were randomly divided into three groups: epidural labor analgesia in parturients during active stage(group A), epidural labor analgesia in total stages of labor (group B) and TENS combined with epidural labor analgesia in active stage (group C). VAS at different times, labor time, volume of postpartum hemorrhage and Apgar score were recorded. Venous blood samples were taken from all groups at the time in labor and complete cervical dilation to test the concentrations of dynorphin (DYN), cortisol (Cor), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine(E) and blood sugar. Results VAS in group B and C was significantly lower than that in group A at each time point in latent stage of labor (P 0.05). The concentration of DYN, Cor, NE, E and blood sugar increased in all groups at the time in complete cervical dilation as compared with the time in labor (P<0.05). The concentration of DYN in group B and C was higher than that in group A at the time in complete cervical dilation, while the concentration of Cor, NE, E and blood sugar was lower (P<0.05). Conclusion TENS combined with epidural analgesia can improve the efficacy of labor analgesia and shorten the stage of labor. The mechanism may be associated with the increase of plasma DYN content and the reduction of stress responses. Key words: Analgesia, obstetrical; Analgesia, epidural; Natural childbirth; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Labor stage; Acupuncture points