During a pre-op study, what can be done to reduce a patient's discomfort at the wrist while maintaining adequate stimulation?

Reducing a patient's discomfort at the wrist during a pre-operative study while ensuring adequate stimulation is crucial for patient safety and cooperation. Decreasing the number of repetitions is an effective approach because it minimizes the overall exposure time to the stimulation. When the frequency of the stimuli is reduced, the patient experiences less discomfort and fatigue, making the procedure more tolerable without sacrificing the quality of the data gathered.

In this context, it's important to maintain a balance between patient comfort and the integrity of the neurophysiological assessment. Other choices could either lead to increased discomfort or affect the quality of the stimulation needed for accurate measurements. For example, increasing the width of the pulse may not directly alleviate discomfort and, in some cases, can lead to stronger sensations. Similarly, decreasing the stimulation intensity might compromise the adequacy of the stimulation needed for clear results. Changing the electrode type could potentially introduce other variables affecting stimulation but may not directly reduce discomfort effectively. Thus, minimizing the number of repetitions stands out as the optimal strategy for enhancing patient comfort while still acquiring the necessary data.