Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields for Postsurgical Pain Management in Women Undergoing Caesarian Section, a Double-blind Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of PEMF in relation to reducing postoperative pain, analgesics use and wound healing in patients undergoing Caesarian Section (C-Section).

METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated 72 women who underwent elective C-Section. 36 patients were assigned in active-PEMF and 36 in sham-PEMF groups. The participants were asked to report their pain intensity based on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 hours and two, four and seven days after surgery. The amount of used analgesics was recorded. The surgical site was evaluated to assess the wound healing process on the seventh postoperative day.

RESULTS: The postoperative pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were significantly lower in the active-PEMF group in all the measured periods within early and late postoperative periods. Fewer women in the active-PEMF group experienced severe postoperative pain within 24 hours postoperative (36% vs. 72%, P=0.002). Analgesic use during the first 24 hours after C-section was 1.9 folds lower in the active-PEMF group (1.6±0.7 vs. 3.1±1.2, P<0.001). Total analgesic use during seven postoperative days was 2.1 folds lower in the active PEMF group than in the sham group (1.7±0.7 vs. 3.7±1.1, P<0.001). Seven days postoperatively, patients in the active-PEMF group had better wound healing with no exudate, erythema or edema (P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: PEMF treatment after C-section significantly decreases postsurgical pain, analgesic use and surgical wound exudate and edema, and is associated with high level of patient satisfaction.

TRIAL REGISTRY: https://www.irct.ir (IRCT2014070711020N3).