Comparing the effect of using Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) versus lidocaine on complication of episiotomy in primiparous women

Local injection of lidocaine is used usually for providing pain relif for episiotomy that has certain side effects. The purpose of this study was to determine and copmare the effect of using Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) versus lidocaine on complication of episiotomy. This study was a single-blind randomized clinical trial that performed on 80 primiparous women who reffered to Tamin Ejtemaee hospital at khoramabad in 2008. The samples were divided randomly into two groups of Lidocaine and TENS. In TENS group, skin electrodes were attached to two acupoints (Hegu and Shenmen), TENS was started during crowning of neonate's head and discontinued right after episiorrhaphy. In lidiocaine group, plain lidocain 1% (10 ml) at the beginning of episiorrhaphy was injected, then the intensity of pain and edema in the perineum were assessed during certain periods. Data analyzed with SPSS (version15) by independent t test and mann-withney U. Pain intensity at immediately after and before episiorrhaphy showed no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). The mean pain intensities at during episiorrhaphy was significantly superior in TENS group (P<0.05). Pain intensity at immediately after episiorrhaphy, 1, 6 and 12 hour after episiorrhaphy were significantly lower in TENS group (P<0.05). Perineal edema at immediately after episiorrhaphy, 1 and 12 hour after episiorrhaphy were significantly lower in TENS group (P=0.000). Due to less pain and edema following episiotomy in TENS group, It is recommended that TENS be used as a Complementary method for decrease of episiotomy pain during repair.