Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of acupuncture points enhances therapeutic effects of oral lactulose solution on opioid-induced constipation

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on opioid-induced constipation (OIC) and patient quality of life. METHODS: A total of 251 patients were randomly allocated to a treatment group, who received TENS and oral lactulose solution (n = 124), and a control group, who received only oral lactulose solution (n = 127). Constipation and quality of life after treatment were measured by comparing semiquantitative scores based on subjective symptoms. RESULTS: The defecation difficulty, incomplete defecation feeling, and overall defecation satisfaction scores of the treatment group were significantly different from those of the control group (P = 0.018). Bowel Function Index and quality of life scores of the treatment group were significantly greater than those of the control group. The effective rates of control and treatment groups were 85.8% and 91.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: TENS of relevant acupuncture points significantly relieved the clinical symptoms of constipation of patients with OIC and improved their quality of life.