Decreasing the blood flow of non-compressible intra-abdominal organs with non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation

TL;DR

This study shows that non-invasive electrical stimulation can reduce blood flow in non-compressible abdominal organs, which could be useful in managing internal bleeding.

Contribution

The study demonstrates a novel method to modulate blood flow in non-compressible organs using specific TENS configurations and frequencies.

Findings

10 Hz TENS with abdominal-only electrodes reduced blood flow in the common hepatic and renal arteries.

Lower arterial pressures were observed when renal blood flow was reduced.

The effect was not seen with placebo or other electrode configurations.

Abstract

Non-invasive neuromodulation of non-compressible internal organs has significant potential for internal organ bleeding and blood-shift in aero/space medicine. The present study aims to investigate the potential influences of the non-invasive transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on multiple non-compressible internal organs’ blood flow. Porcine animal model (n = 8) was randomized for a total of 48 neuromodulation sessions with two different TENS stimulation frequencies (80 Hz, 10 Hz) and a placebo stimulation. A combination of two different electrode configurations (Abdominal-only or Abdominal and hind limb) were also performed. Intraarterial blood flow measurements were taken during pre and post-stimulation periods at the left renal artery, common hepatic artery, and left coronary artery. Intracranial, and extracranial arterial blood flows were also assessed with digital subtraction angiography. TENS with abdominal-only electrode configurations at 10 Hz demonstrated significant reductions in average peak blood flow velocity (APV) of the common hepatic artery (p = 0.0233) and renal arteries (p = 0.0493). Arterial pressures (p = 0.0221) were also significantly lower when renal APV was reduced. The outcome of the present study emphasises the potential use of TENS in decreasing the blood flow of non-compressible internal organs when the correct combination of electrodes configuration and frequency is used.

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