• Relieve pain
• Combat local infection, swelling, or inflammation
• Control bleeding (hemorrhage)
• Reduce body temperature

• Ice bags
• Electronically operated Aquamatic K-Pads
• Prepackaged, single-use units for the application of hot and cold
• Gel packs that can be cooled or heated as needed

hypothermia-hyperthermia blankets

• Lower body temperature when there is fever
• Elevate body temperature in cases of hypothermia

moisture

Therefore, moist heat or moist cold is morel likely to cause injury

• Constrict or decrease the size of blood vessel
• Decreases sensitivity to pain
• Reduces temperature
• Slows inflammation
• Reduces itching

• Disposable cold pack
• Ice bag
• Thermal blanket

Wet compresses are moistened with a solution and placed on the affected area

Note : compresse can be kept cold by placing a covered ice bag against the affected area

A syringe may be used to add water to the compresse

105ºF

Temperatures greater than this can cause burns.

appendicitis

because it would increase the chance of the appendix rupturing

10 minutes

• Stop the heat applications if appears red, or dark area appears. Notify the nurse immediatly
• Stop the cold applications if the skin appears cyanotic, pale, white or bright red, or numbness, shivering

• relieve muscles spasms
• Reduce pain
• reduce inflammation
• promote healing 
• combat local infection
• increase circulation
• improve mobility before exercise periods
• soothe the patient

• Deep vein thrombosis
• peripheral vascular disease
• open wound
• skin sensation impairment
• severe cognitive impairment
• cold intolerance, cold allergy
• some medical condition such as rheumatoid

• acute inflammation
• dermatitis
• deep vein thrombosis
• peripheral vascular disease
• open wound(s)
• Recent soft tissue injuries 
• skin sensation impairment and paralysis
• severe cognitive impairment
• children
• women during pregnancy

• paralyzed areas or areas without sensation
• acute edema or inflammation
• infection
• hemophilia
• used with caution for patients with : impaired circulation, sensory impairment, cancer, rashes and open skin conditions

Temperature of a constant heat unit should be between

• always use a bath thermometer to check solution temperatures
• always remove the body part being soaked vefore adding warm solution
• Rubber or plastic should never touch the patient's skin. Be sure all appliances are covered with cloth
• Protect areas not being treated from excessive exposure

Aquamatic K-Pad

Provide dry warmth

• Warm soaks
• Wet compresses

Sitz bath

It is usually done to relieve discomfort following childbirth, perineal surgery or rectal surgery

• Drop in body temperature
• Poor coordination and confusion
• slurred speech
• decreased respiratory

• elevated body temperature
• hot, flushed skin
• faintness
• headache
• nausea
• convulsions

Knee-Chest

[image]

Proctologic position

 [image]

position mainly used in proctocologists office used to examine colon, rectum and lower intestines

every 15 to 30 minutes. If temperature drop more than

1 º in 15 minutes inform the nurse.

5 minutes until desired temperature is reach, and then every 15 minutes or as ordered.

After removing the blanket  every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours, then hourly or as directed by the nurse, because pts' temperature can continue to drop as much as 5º after procedure ends.

Nurse will turn on and set the desired body temperature or blanket temperature

• NA  turn the device on then add distilled water to the reservoir
• Positio the controls at the foot of the bed
• After the blanket has reached the designeated temperature, apply it to the patient
• Apply lanolin or another designated product to the skin in exposed areas that contact the blanket directly.

• change in skin color
• cyanosis of the lips or nail beds
• sudden changes in body temperature
• marked changes in pulse, repirations and blood pressure
• respiratory distress
• pain 
• changes in sensation 
• edema
• shivering and chills
• urinary output below 50mL/hour

• Mild hypothermia : 93ºF-95ºF (R)
• Moderate hypothermia : 86ºF-93ºF (R)
• Severe hypothermia: less than 86ºF (R)

• young children
• the aged
• patients with cognitive impairment
• patients who are uncooperative
• patients who are unconscious
• patients who are paralyzed
• patients with tissue damage
• patients with poor circulation