effectiveness of using modified transcutaneous spinal electroanalgesia on patients with acute sickle cell painful episode

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effectiveness of modified Transcutaneous Spinal Electroanalgesia [mTSE] on acute painful episode in sickle cell disease [SCD]. Prospective Non-Randomized Experimental Study. Pediatric and Medical Ward, Qatif Central Hospital, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A prospective study conducted between April to July 2004. It included all SCD patients admitted in pediatric and medical wards with moderate/severe acute pain involving lower back and/or lower limbs, not responding to the initial management over the first four hours of presentation. Modified Transcutaneous Spinal Electroanalgesia [mTSE] was used for 90 minutes. Data entry and analysis were done by Epi-Info software [Version 3.2.2]. One hundred seven patients were included in the study. Age ranged between 5 and 50 years. Males were 57 [53.27%]; 50 [51.10%] of the females were adults and 32 [56.14%] of the males were pediatrics. The mTSE had lowered the pain level to mild in 20 [38.46%] adults, compared to 32 [58.18%] children. Twenty-eight [49.12%] males showed improvement, compared to 28 [56%] females. Post-mTSE pain score was 3.6 +/- 2.5, compared to 7.5 +/- 2.1 pre-mTSE, [p-value<0.01]. The response to mTSE was more apparent in pediatrics [3.1 +/- 2.7] compared to adults [4.1 +/- 2.2], P-value=0.01. Pediatric male patients responded better to mTSE [2.8 +/- 2.6] compared to adult male patients [4.1 +/- 1.8], P-value=0.005. Our preliminary study reveals the efficacy of mTSE in controlling bony pain of acute painful episodes in SCD patients