Epidemiology of cancer and role of physiotherapy in pain management in patients with malignant pleural effusion with ICD

Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a clinical condition and common complication that develops in cancer patients in many types of tumors, its presence indicates the onset of the terminal stages of cancer. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been used extensively to control pain mainly in post-operative thoracotomy patients, but its effects are controversial. So present study aims to study the role of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in pain Management using the NPRS Scale for patients with Malignant pleural effusion with an Intercostal Drainage (ICD) Tube. Method: An experimental study was done at Pravara Rural Hospital and a total of 44 patients with malignant pleural effusion with intercostal drainage tube were assessed for this study. The effectiveness of TENS was assessed by the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS).Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with High Frequency (100 to 120 HZ) and low intensity was given for 2 weeks. Result: Pre-intervention mean value of NPRS Score (Pain Intensity)in participants of the experimental group was 7.30±0.92 and after 2 weeks of intervention it was 2.82±0.83. The difference between the pre and post-values of the NPRS Score (Pain Intensity)in the experimental group was 4.47and it shows a highly significant difference in pre and post-intervention pain intensity. Conclusion: This study concludes that physiotherapy modalities like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation are safe and effective in pain management in Malignant pleural effusion with an ICD tube.