M Mücke1,2,3, H Schulze4, L Radbruch4,5, M Marinova6, H Cuhls4, D Kravchenko4,7, R Conrad7, R Rolke8. 1. Klinik für Palliativmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland. martin.muecke@ukb.uni-bonn.de. 2. Institut für Hausarztmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland. martin.muecke@ukb.uni-bonn.de. 3. Zentrum für Seltene Erkrankungen (ZSEB), Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland. martin.muecke@ukb.uni-bonn.de. 4. Klinik für Palliativmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland. 5. Zentrum für Palliativmedizin, Malteser Krankenhaus Seliger Gerhard Bonn/Rhein-Sieg, Bonn, Deutschland. 6. Radiologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland. 7. Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland. 8. Klinik für Palliativmedizin, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is currently a lack of studies that evaluate the effects of matrix electrode neuromodulation on acute pain. In this prospective and randomized cross-over study, we investigated the efficacy of 4 Hz-matrix stimulation on venipuncture-induced pain in 30 healthy subjects. METHODS: We compared two conditions of neurostimulation: in EC1 (experimental condition 1), we performed venipuncture during stimulation, with 2.5 min of prestimulation with 600 stimuli; in EC2 (experimental condition 2), the length of stimulation was 5 min, at 1200 stimuli, with subsequent venipuncture. A group with no stimulation was used as control condition. RESULTS: The EC2 group did not only show a 77% reduction in puncture pain when compared to the control group (p < 0.001; effect size [ES] d = 1.45), but also had a significant effect compared with EC1 (p < 0.001; ES d = 1.33). EC1, on the other hand, did not demonstrate a significant difference to the control group. The status of the veins was evaluated based on visibility and did not differ significantly between the conditions. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed for the first time that pre-emptive matrix stimulation could be an effective way to reduce acute pain. The duration of stimulation seems to play a key role in the effectiveness of the neurophysiological mechanism of action. Matrix stimulation is a therapeutic intervention with very few side effects, which could, in the future, expand our pain-management options for the treatment of acute pain.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: There is currently a lack of studies that evaluate the effects of matrix electrode neuromodulation on acute pain. In this prospective and randomized cross-over study, we investigated the efficacy of 4 Hz-matrix stimulation on venipuncture-induced pain in 30 healthy subjects. METHODS: We compared two conditions of neurostimulation: in EC1 (experimental condition 1), we performed venipuncture during stimulation, with 2.5 min of prestimulation with 600 stimuli; in EC2 (experimental condition 2), the length of stimulation was 5 min, at 1200 stimuli, with subsequent venipuncture. A group with no stimulation was used as control condition. RESULTS: The EC2 group did not only show a 77% reduction in puncture pain when compared to the control group (p < 0.001; effect size [ES] d = 1.45), but also had a significant effect compared with EC1 (p < 0.001; ES d = 1.33). EC1, on the other hand, did not demonstrate a significant difference to the control group. The status of the veins was evaluated based on visibility and did not differ significantly between the conditions. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed for the first time that pre-emptive matrix stimulation could be an effective way to reduce acute pain. The duration of stimulation seems to play a key role in the effectiveness of the neurophysiological mechanism of action. Matrix stimulation is a therapeutic intervention with very few side effects, which could, in the future, expand our pain-management options for the treatment of acute pain.
Authors: Eva Pastalkova; Peter Serrano; Deana Pinkhasova; Emma Wallace; André Antonio Fenton; Todd Charlton Sacktor Journal: Science Date: 2006-08-25 Impact factor: 47.728