The Effects of Transcranial Electrostimulation (TES) on Postoperative Pain and Functional Patient Outcomes After Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Stanford University
Summary
Postoperative pain after major surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), such as palatopharyngoplasty (PPP) and maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) is moderate-to-severe, and may persist for weeks. Control of this pain may be difficult, because OSA patients are very sensitive to traditional opioid pain medications, and their side effects. Poorly controlled pain slows down patients' recovery after surgery, including a return to normal daily activities and work, and may also delay wound healing. This study will investigate whether pain relief and recovery after surgery may be improved with the application of a weak electrical current to the skin of the patient's head (transcranial electrostimulation, TES). The TES works by blocking pain in the central nervous system through multiple mechanisms, which result in non-pharmacological pain relief, without drug-associated side effects.
Description
The incidence and severity of postoperative pain in patients undergoing major airway surgery for OSA, such as palatopharyngoplasty (PPP) and maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) is high, and may persist for days, significantly contributing to patient's morbidity. High doses of intravenous and oral opioids are frequently required to achieve adequate pain relief. Yet, the increased sensitivity of OSA patients to opioid analgesics, and associated high risk of postoperative respiratory depression and upper airway obstruction limit the traditional therapeutic options, frequently making pain control…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: Patients with moderate-to-severe OSA, presenting for PPP and MMA surgeries. All patients will be American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status II-III. The subjects should understand informed consent and study instructions. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with a known or suspected genetic susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia, or known sensitivity to Sevoflurane, an inhaled anesthetic agent. 2. Pregnant patients. 3. Patients who are unable to understand the questionnaires or the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, or to keep home diaries. 4. Patients wit…
Interventions
- DeviceTranscranial electrostimulation (TES)
Transcranial electrostimulation (TES) with combined direct (DC) and alternating (AC) current, or TES with DC only will be administered through the skin electrodes positioned on the patient's head
Location
- Stanford Univeristy Medical CenterStanford, California