Download Constant Galvanic Current

Part III
Miss Hira Jabeen
ANMC
Technique of treatment:
Preparation Of Apparatus:
 Source of current:
a cell battery or apparatus which uses the main supply
 Testing of apparatus:
 Leads attached to terminals not touching each other in
a bowl of tap water
 Current slowly turned up and make sure regulation of
current is even
 Tap water is used because it has a fairly high resistance
and so the control can be turned well up without passing
excess current through the milliamperemeter.
 The polarity can be checked by observing the bubbles
from the cathode.
 Operator may test the current on herself
 Pads
 At least half an inch in thickness
 In order that the chemicals formed at the electrodes
shall not soak through to the skin.
 (Sixteen thicknesses of lint)
 Evenly folded with no creases or raw edges
 Pads are soaked in warm 1 percent saline
 Half an inch smaller all round than the pads
 With rounded corners
PREPARATION OF THE PATIENT
 Skin sensations must be tested at the first attendance
 To ensure that the patient will be able to detect any
concentration of current
 The test may be made with a blunt object and cotton
wool
 Skin is washed and abrasions protected
APPLICATION OF PADS AND
ELECTRODES
 Skin moistened with saline and electropads are
applied
 No metal comes in contact with the skin.
 Held in position with the bandages
 Bandage the leads away from the skin
 If the surface is irregular, hollows may be padded with
the wool soaked in saline
APPLICATION OF CURRENT
 PATIENT EDUCATION:
 The patient is warned that she will experience a
pricking sensation as the current is increased, which
will gradually pass off and be replaced by a feeling of
warmth, also that she must report any discomfort or
concentration of current.
 Current is turned up slowly, taking about 5 minutes to
reach the maximum,
 The pricking sensations experienced at this stage are
thought to be due to stimulation of sensory nerve
endings at the basis of hair follicles
 Due to the continuous passage of current, ions enter
the epidermis and reduce its resistance, so that the
distribution of current becomes more even.
 The pricking passes off and the sensation of warmth
is due to increased blood supply.
Current
slowly
turned
up
Prickling
sensation
continuo
us
passage
of
current
reduce
epider
mis
resista
nce
More
current
erythem
a
 Conclusion of the treatment the current is reduced
slowly and turned off.
 Skin is washed to remove any chemicals
 Dried and powdered or a soothing cream
 At the first attendance =less current, and for a shorter
time
 A record should be kept of: the size and position of the
pads, the intensity of the current, the duration of the
treatment and the skin reaction at each attendance.
TREATMENT WITH BATHS
PRECAUTIONS
 Danger of burn is rather less as any chemical which
may be formed dissolve in the water and so are diluted.
 Rings ,chains any metal etc, must be removed
 The patient warned not to touch any electrode.
 Breaks in the skin are protected by petroleum jelly, as
they would cause discomfort due to concentration of
ions.
Cont..
 The danger of shock is greater than with the pads and
electrodes
 Patient should be warned not to take the limb out of
the bath during treatment, as this would break the
circuit and cause a shock
 Control is turned up and down very slowly
USES OF THE BATH TREATMENT
 For widespread effect
 Increasing the blood supply to a limb
 For an irregular area such as the hand or the foot
 Not suitable for the treatment of the swollen areas as
the limb must be dependent
DANGER AND PRECAUTIONS
ELECTRIC SHOCK
 Electric shock is one of the dangers associated with the
application of the constant D.C.
 The precautions that should be taken.
ELECTROLYTIC BURNS
 Burns produced by the constant D.C. are electrolyte or
chemical burns
Causes :
1. Metal in contact with the tissues
2. Due to a break in the skin to the presence of undissolved
salts on the pad
3. Pads of uneven thickness or with creases or with raw
edges of pads that are unevenly damp
4. Electrode being bent, cracked or much smaller than the
pads
5. Pads being too close together
6. Pads are too thin for the intensity and duration of the
treatment
7. Application of liniment
8. Impaired sensation
Healing of electrolytic burn
 Grey spot surrounded by the reddened area
 Healing is slow and by second intention
 Area should be kept dry and clean
 Protected by dry sterile gauze
GALVANIC RASH
 Individuals with sensitive skins are liable to develop
rash on the skin
 Type of rash varies in different cases;
 It may be red, like nettle rash, or small white spots or
minute blisters may appear.
 Skin should be washed and soothing cream applied.
 Presence of the rash should be reported to the medical
officer
GIDDINESS
 If the current is passed through the region of the
semicircular canals
 When the intensity is being varied e.g. In treatment of
the ear or mandibular joint
 Patient must be fully supported
 Current increased and decreased very slowly
 Operator at hand throughout the treatment
CONTRAINDICATIONS
 Anesthetic areas of the skin
 metal embedded in the tissues
 breaks in the skin
Any Question?
THE
END