The updated clinical guidelines titled “General Issues of Pain Management in the Pre-hospital Period of Emergency Medical Care” have been published in the national manual “Emergency Care 2025”, where SCENAR therapy is introduced as one of the standard treatment methods. This means that ambulance teams can now officially use this method to relieve patients' pain. The document was developed by a team of scientists led by Professor Alexander V. Tarakanov, Head of the Department of Emergency Medical Care at the Faculty of Advanced Training for Physicians at Rostov State Medical University (RostSMU).
Pain is one of the most common reasons for calling emergency medical services. Traditionally, pharmacological agents have been used to manage it. However, the updated standards now include transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation, specifically using the SCENAR device, as a standard method. The key advantage of SCENAR therapy is its biological feedback mechanism, which allows the treatment to be tailored to each patient’s individual needs.
The experience with SCENAR devices spans over 40 years, including extensive clinical trials and scientific research conducted both in Russia and abroad. The clinical guidelines highlight specific situations where SCENAR therapy is particularly relevant: when pharmacological therapy is contraindicated or impossible; in cases of allergies or contraindications to existing medications; due to its compatibility with any other treatment methods; when diagnosis is difficult under Emergency Care conditions; for use by first responders without medical training during disasters; and for self-help in emergency situations.
A decade-long clinical study conducted by the All-Russian Society of Emergency Medical Care has demonstrated the effectiveness of SCENAR devices in managing lower back pain, fibromyalgia-related pain, neck pain and whiplash injuries, reducing blood pressure, alleviating symptoms of hypertensive crises, including cardialgia and cephalalgia, insomnia, treating burns, and other conditions.
The implementation of SCENAR therapy at the prehospital stage represents a significant step towards reducing the medication burden on patients, while enhancing the safety and expanding the capabilities of medical care, particularly in complex clinical cases.
