Objective: This study aimed to investigate the analgesic effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on labor.
Methods: Primiparas with single birth and head presentation were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into three groups: TEAS group (n = 76), patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) group (n = 75), and control group without any analgesic measures (n = 78).
Results: Compared with the control group, the visual analog scores of the TEAS group and the PCEA group at each time point decreased (P < 0.01). The decrease was greater in the PCEA group than that in the TEAS group (P < 0.01). At 120 minutes after analgesia, there were significant differences in plasma β-endorphin content between the TEAS group, PCEA group, and control group (P < 0.01). The difference between the PCEA group and the control group was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Among the parturients having a vaginal delivery, the duration of the first stage of labor was significantly shorter in the TEAS group and control group than in the PCEA group (P < 0.01). The duration of the second stage of labor was significantly shorter in the TEAS group than in the PCEA group (P < 0.01). Oxytocin usage rate during labor was significantly lower in the TEAS group and control group than in the PCEA group (P < 0.01), and adverse reactions were significantly fewer in the TEAS group and control group than in the PCEA group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: The duration of the first and second stage of labor is significantly shorter in the TEAS group than in the PCEA group. TEAS does not increase the use rate of oxytocin or the rate of cesarean section and will not bring about obvious maternal or fetal adverse reactions.
Keywords: labor analgesia, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation, patient-controlled epidural analgesia, visual analog score of pain, β-endorphin