Electrotherapeutic Modalities, Physical Agents, and Mechanical Modalities Flashcards
What are 7 modalities and physical agents than can be used to enhance wound healing?
- Wound irrigation
- Whirlpool
- Pulsed lavage
- Electrical stimulation
- Ultrasound
- Negative pressure wound therapy
- Hyperbaric oxygen
What can be defined as the use of fluid to remove loosely adhered debris, bacteria, exudate, draining residue and residual topical agents?
Wound Irrigation
What are 3 advantages to wound irrigation?
- Facilitates debridement
- Assists with achieving and maintaining a moist wound environment
- Enhances wound healing
Irrigation after whirlpool removes _ times more bacteria than whirlpool alone
4
Wound irrigation is an acceptable intervention for all types of wounds and is the only direct wound intervention for what type of wound?
healing granular wounds
In what type of wound is irrigation contraindicated?
Wounds with active, profuse bleeding
Wound irrigation should use _-__ psi of pressure
4-15
Recent recommendations for irrigation suggest that pressures between __-__ psi are most effective for preventing infection
10-15
What are 6 advantages to wound irrigation?
- simple
- quick
- inexpensive
- effective
- can use for wound in any location
- can be used in any setting
What is the main disadvantage to wound irrigation?
Irrigant runoff may soil bed lines or patient clothing, which may result in the clinician using less irrigant solution than necessary, making the treatment less effective
What are 3 alternatives to wound irrigation?
- Soak wound with saline-moistened gauze
- whirlpool
- pulsed lavage
Whirlpool is a form of _______ (selective/nonselective) mechanical debridement
nonselective
What are the 7 main purposes of whirlpool?
- debrides loosely adherent devitalized tissues, foreign debris, and surface bacteria
- softens necrotic tissue and eschar
- hydrates the wound bed and promotes moist wound healing
- promotes circulation
- associated with decreased patient pain complaint during wound care procedures
- eases ROM for patients with burn injuries
- can help soak off adherent wound dressings
Whirlpool is indicated in what 4 types of wounds?
- infected wounds
- nondraining wounds
- wounds with thick eschar
- wounds with loosely necrotic tissue or thick exudate
Whirlpool is contraindicated in what 4 types of wounds?
- Clean, granulating, or epithelializing wounds
- Edematous, draining, or macerated wounds
- Wounds with tunneling, undermining, skinfolds that can’t be effectively irrigated
- Active bleeding wounds
What should you be cautious of when treating arterial insufficiency ulcers with whirlpool?
lower the temperature
In what type of patients is whirlpool contraindicated?
- patients with edema or lymphedema
- incontinent patients
- patients who are hydrophobic, confused, combative, with seizures
- patients with multiple open wounds
__% of burn units using whirlpool therapy use the immersion method
81
Small whirlpools should be filled with water between __ to __ degrees Fahrenheit. Larger whirlpools need to be slightly warmer, but should never exceed ___ degrees
92-98
102
Whirlpool treatments should be completed in __-__ minutes
10-20
What are 3 advantages to whirlpool treatment?
- provides a comfortable environment to perform ROM exercises
- promotes moist wound healing
- available in most clinical settings
What are 4 disadvantages to whirlpool treatment?
- the irrigation pressure cannot be calibrated
- there is potential for maceration, edema, and cross-contamination
- time intensive for setup and cleanup
- expensive
What can be defined as the delivery of wound irrigant under pressure by an electrically powered device?
Pulsed Lavage
What are the 4 positive effects of pulsed lavage?
- Irrigates wound bed with precisely calibrated pressure
- Assist with obtaining/maintaining moist wound environment
- Facilitates debridement
- May enhance granulation tissue formation, epithelialization, and tissue perfusion
In what type of wounds is pulsed lavage indicated?
- arterial insufficiency wounds
- venous insufficiency wounds
- diabetic ulcers
- pressure ulcers
- small burns
- surgical wounds
- wounds with tunneling/undermining
When is pulsed lavage contraindicated?
- in wounds with exposed arteries, nerves, tendons, capsules, or bone
- on facial wounds
- recent grafts or surgical procedures
- wounds that are actively bleeding
Patients with a _____ allergy should not be treated with pulsed lavage
latex
What are 3 situations in which pulsed lavage should be used with caution?
- patients taking anticoagulants because of the potential for hemorrhage
- insensate patients to decrease the risk of unperceived trauma
- patients with deep tunneling wounds to prevent damage from the probing wound tip
If the pulsed lavage pressure is greater than 15 psi what is the risk?
increased bacteria penetration into wound tissues
Depending on the wound size and severity there should be anywhere around ____-____ mL of irrigant in the irrigant reservoir and should be between ___-___ degrees Fahrenheit.
1000-3000
102-106
What is the appropriate PPE requirement while performing pulsed lavage and why?
Everyone in the room is required to wear PPE in order to protect them from splash injury and aerosolization
In order to prevent cross-contamination what are the environmental requirements while performing pulsed lavage?
- room with four walls and a door
- cover IV sites/open areas not being treated
- wipe down all horizontal surfaces
What are the 6 advantages of pulsed lavage treatment?
- encourages thorough irrigation
- can be used in any setting and on a wound in any location
- quick
- low risk of cross-contamination
- decreased pain
- ergonomical
What are the 4 disadvantages of pulsed lavage treatment?
- messy
- expense
- not appropriate for large wounds
- some parts are “one-time use”
It has been shown that electrical stimulation can increase the rate of wound healing by ___% compared to standard care
144
Typical wound care electrical stimulation uses ____ volt pulse current
high
What are the 7 purported ways in which electrical stimulation is thought to facilitate wound healing?
- restores the current of injury
- causes galvanotaxis
- stimulates cells
- increases blood flow
- increases bactericidal abilities
- reduces edema
- facilitates debridement
Normally, the epidermis is electro____ with respect to the dermis creating a skin “battery”. A break in skin integrity disrupts this battery making the wound electro____ compared to the surrounding tissues
negative
positive
What is galvanotaxis?
the stimulation of cells to move along an electrical current
Electrical stimulation-mediated angiogenesis may be mediated by what activation of what?
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)