Wound: Hot & Cold

Question 1

What is the blood vessel response in heat therapy? What happens to inflammation?

Answer 1

• Vasodilation
• ↑ inflammation

Question 2

What is the blood vessel response in cold therapy? What happens to inflammation?

Answer 2

• Vasoconstriction
• ↓ inflammation

Question 3

How does heat therapy affect blood viscosity and bleeding?

Answer 3

• ↓blood viscosity
• ↑ bleeding

Question 4

How does cold therapy affect blood viscosity and bleeding?

Answer 4

• ↑ blood viscosity
• ↓ bleeding

Question 5

How does heat therapy affect muscle tension and tissue metabolism?

Answer 5

• ↓ muscle tension
• ↑ tissue metabolism

Question 6

How does cold therapy affect muscle tension and tissue metabolism?

Answer 6

• ↓ muscle tension
• ↓ tissue metabolism

Question 7

How does heat therapy affect circulation and capillary permeability?

Answer 7

• Helps capillary permeability
  -> ↑ circulation to the area

Question 8

How does cold therapy affect edema?

Answer 8

• ↓ edema

Question 9

How does heat therapy affect pain?

Answer 9

• ↓ pain

Question 10

How does cold therapy affect pain?

Answer 10

• ↓ pain
  -> provides local anesthesia

Question 11

What is the effect of heat therapy on blood pressure and cardiac output?

Answer 11

• ↓ BP
• ↑ cardiac output

Question 12

What is the effect of cold therapy on blood pressure?

also how does the body react to cold therapy but very generally speaking

Answer 12

• ↑ BP
• shivering

Question 13

How does heat therapy affect muscle/joint stiffness?

Answer 13

• ↓ muscle/joint stiffness

Question 14

How does cold therapy affect muscle contractility?

Answer 14

• ↓ muscle contractility

Question 15

Name moist examples of heat therapy

Answer 15

• Compresses
• Hot packs
• K-Pad (heating pad with water)
• Sitz-bath (use after vaginal surgeries; post childbirth)

Question 16

Name dry examples of heat therapy

Answer 16

• Heating pad
• Hyperthermia blanket

Question 17

Name moist examples of cold therapy

Answer 17

• Compresses
• Cold water sponge bath

Question 18

Name dry examples of cold therapy

Answer 18

• Ice bag
• Ice collar
• Hypothermia blanket

Question 19

What is rebound phenomenon? What is the effect of rebound phenomenon?

Answer 19

• maximum therapeutic effect of heat or cold application exceeds 15–20 mins
• create an opposite effect: tissue congestion & vasoconstriction
  -> tissue dmg especially in sensory impairment

Question 20

Therapy must be stopped before ________ ________ happens.

Answer 20

rebound phenomenon

Question 21

Which patietns are high risk when using heat & cold therapies?

Answer 21

• Very young or elderly
• open or infected wounds
• Impaired circulation conditions:
  -> Peripheral Vascular Disease
  -> DM
• Impaired sensation:
  -> Spinal Cord Injury
  -> CVA

Question 22

When should heat therapy be utilized?

Indications for heat therapy

Answer 22

• muscle spasm
• joint stiffness
• contractures
• pain

Question 23

When should cold therapy be utilized?

Indications for cold therapy

Answer 23

• muscle spasm
• pain
• trauma
• control bleeding
• inflammation

Question 24

When shouldn’t heat therapy be utilized?

Contraindications for heat therapy

Answer 24

• first 24h after trauma
• active bleeding
• edema/inflamed area
• blisters

Question 25

When shouldn't cold therapy be utilized? | Contraindications for cold therapy

Answer 25

- asthma/allergies - hypersenstivity to cold - open wounds

Question 26

What are some nursing implications regarding heat and cold therapy?

Answer 26

- Familiar with facility protocol - Assess patient before, during, & after therapy - Apply only for specified time (15–20 mins) - Ensure correct temperature - Educate patient/family not to adjust temperature

Question 27

What are Sitz-baths used for?

Answer 27

- vaginal surgeries, post childbirth