What is the principle of diathermy? How does diathermy work? Diathermy uses high-frequency electric current to produce heat deep inside a targeted tissue. It can reach areas as deep as two inches beneath the skin’s
What is the principle of diathermy?
How does diathermy work? Diathermy uses high-frequency electric current to produce heat deep inside a targeted tissue. It can reach areas as deep as two inches beneath the skin’s surface. The diathermy machine does not apply heat directly to the body.
What are diathermy precautions?
Simple precautions such as monitoring the application and removal of the diathermy pad are not performed by the operating surgeon. Furthermore, most surgeons increase the frequency of the diathermy current if there is an inappropriate effect rather than check the pad placement.
Why is diathermy used in surgery?
Introduction. Diathermy is the use of high frequency alternate polarity radio-wave electrical current to cut or coagulate tissue during surgery. It allows for precise incisions to be made with limited blood loss and is now used in nearly all surgical disciplines.
What is diathermy used to treat?
Diathermy are treatments that deliver energy to treat specific areas of the body. These treatments are typically used for the following purposes: Relieve pain, stiffness and muscle spasms. Reduce joint contractures.
What is a diathermy burn?
What is a Diathermy Burn? Diathermy is a surgical technique that uses the heat generated by an electrical current to cut tissue or seal blood vessels.
What is the difference between diathermy and ultrasound?
Diathermy uses electromagnetic energy and it heats up the tissue much deeper. If you have two plates touching the lateral and the medial knee, you would get heating 5 cm deep on one plate and 5 cm deep on the other plate. It does heat deeper than ultrasound and treats a larger area than ultrasound.
Where do you place diathermy plate?
☑ Position the patient plate above electrically conducting tissue (muscle tissue) whenever possible. ☑ Do not place the patient plate on top of fat tissue, bones/joints, skin folds or on the patient’s head. ☑ Attach the patient plate to healthy tissue if possible. Avoid scars, hemorrhages, tattoos.
What is the difference between diathermy and cautery?
The word cautery originates from the latin, meaning to brand. It relates to the coagulation or destruction of tissue by heat or a caustic substance. Electrosurgery (particularly electrocoagulation) is sometimes incorrectly called diathermy, which means ‘dielectrical heat’.
When would you use diathermy?
Diathermy is commonly used for muscle relaxation, and to induce deep heating in tissue for therapeutic purposes in medicine. It is used in physical therapy to deliver moderate heat directly to pathologic lesions in the deeper tissues of the body.
Is diathermy a contraindication?
The previously mentioned contraindications for shortwave diathermy also apply to microwave diathermy. Additional precautions include synovitis with joint effusion, systemic/local infection, and use over bony prominences.
How do you prevent diathermy burns?
Recommendations to reduce unintended intraoperative electrocautery burns have been previously documented in the literature and include the following: using isolated electrosurgical units, avoiding or minimizing contact between the patient and operative instruments and theatre devices, avoiding activation of the …