Question

Review the following clinical case scenario. Answer the corresponding questions.

An 86 year old male is admitted from the PACU after a slow recovery from anesthesia following a procedure to replace his pacemaker. The patient has a history of diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and peripheral neuropathy. The patient's daughter requests an ice pack to reduce swelling at the surgical incision site and states the "stitches appear stretched and taunt". What are some possible concerns you may have regarding the use of cold treatment at the surgical site? Include at least three.

Answer 1

Answer :

86 yrs old male admitted in PACU(Post anesthetic care unit) after recovering from anesthesia, after pacemaker replacement.

History of client is

* diabetes

* peripheral vascular disease

* peripheral neuropathy

Possible concerns regarding the use of cold treatment at the surgical site :

Cold treatment and compression therapy may useful after the surgery at surgical site because, After the surgery there is a complications like swelling, edema, and poor wound healing.

* cold application may reduces the pain.

* and It reduces the inflammation.

* and it will reduces the swelling.

* through cold treatment the blood circulation may increases to the cells and oxygen supply increases and so would healing may taken place well.

* it is also known as cryotherapy.

* but we should not apply directly on skin it may leads to damage to the dedicated skin and cause frost bite.

* and too long we should not keep, only 10-15 minutes. If we keep too long also stops, the blood circulation.

* so properly cover with ice bags and we can apply on the site of surgery.

* and at least three to four times a day each application minimum 10-15 minutes can apply.

* But only first few days of the surgery only it is beneficial. Like first 48 hours of the surgery.

These are the concerns they have to follow.