Application Of Hot And Cold

This is part of the Nursing Skills powerpoints and is supposed to appear on the first test.

1. Therapeutic Effects of Heat and
Cold Applications
Facilitates removal of
waste & toxins.
Produces a local
warming effect.
Increases absorption of
fluid by capillaries &
promotes removal of
excess fluid from
interstitial spaces,
Increases capillary
permeability
Increases delivery of
oxygen & nutrients,
leukocytes, antibodies
to facilitate the
inflammatory process.
Decreases blood
viscosity
Increases tissue
metabolism
Improve blood flowPromote vasodilation
Heat Therapy
Therapeutic BenefitsPhysiological Responses

2. Decreases blood flow to
site of injury, thereby
decreasing
inflammation & edema
formation.
Decreases blood flow,
facilitating clotting &
control of bleeding.
Reduces oxygen
consumption of tissues.
Raises pain threshold
Promotes
vasoconstriction
Increases blood
viscosity
Decreases tissue
metabolism
has a local anesthetic
effect
Decreases muscle
tension
Cold Therapy
thereby reducing
edema
Promotes muscle
relaxation &
decreases pain from
spasm or stiffness.
Therapeutic BenefitsPhysiological Responses

3. Maximum vasodilation &
vasoconstriction occurs in 30 minutes
Heat & cold are directly
transferred from on substance to
another by conduction
•A poor conductor is called an
insulator.
•Water is a good conductor; air is
not
--so skin will tolerated higher
temperatures if heat is dry rather
than moist
--ex: moist, hot compresses are
applied at a lower temp than
hot water bottle covered in a
cloth.

4. •The body tolerates greater
extremes in temperature when
duration of exposure is shorter.
•The larger the area involved, the
less tolerant the skin in to
extremes in temperature.
•Consider the condition of the
patient.
--unconscious, debilitated,
circulatory problems, broken
skin have decreased tolerance to
extremes in temperature.
Selection of temperature depends on:
1. reason used
2. duration
3. method of application
4. condition of patient

5. Legal Aspects
1. Always check the order
and check hospital or agency's
policy.
2. Assess client, especially his/her
skin prior to application.
3. Check as frequency as needed
depending on type of application,
but at least q1h
4. Leave on only as ordered.
5. Document:
a. treatment used
b. how patient tolerated procedure
c. how skin looked afterwards
6. If patient is injured, you can be sued.