Today is our topic of discussion Hot Fomentation.
Hot Fomentation
Hot Fomentation
Hot fomentation is a local moist heat application, over an area by means of two thick pieces of flannel or other soft material, wrung out from boiling water, protected by water, soft covering, wool and bandage .Hot fomentation is defined as a process of applying moist heat to localized part of body.
Purpose
- To relieve pain and congestion
- To relieve inflammation
- To relieve retention of urine
- To relieve intestinal and renal colic
- To stimulate nerve ending to stimulate peristalsis
- To provide comfort and warmth
- To relax muscles
- To promote suppuration
- To apply sterile compress on wounds.
Classification
- Simple fomentation: boiled or dipped in boiling water is used for fomentation, it is called simple fomentation
- Medicated fomentation: drug is added to boiled water for fomentations and it is applied to unbroken skin used to relieve tympanites by increasing the peristalsis and relaxing the muscle spasm
- Surgical fomentation: this is a fomentation to broken part of skin like over an open wound. The purpose is to relieve pain and muscle spasm, to reduce swelling and congestion and to accelerate the process of suppuration.
Area of Application
- Whole of the back and sides of axilla are covered to relieve congestion of kidney
- Joint stiffness or inflammation of the whole joint and some areas above or below the joint are covered
- In case of stomach pain, the area of application is from xiphisternum to umbilicus and both sides of abdomen.
General Instructions
- Make sure that the skin in intact, not sored or abraded in case of medical fomentation
- The skin is smeared with little vaseline/oil before the
- application of moist heat to prevent scalding
- The skin is covered with a layer of warm cotton (sterile) in care of open wound until a fresh application is made, if any interval of time elapses between the removal of one and the application of the next.
Preliminary Assessment
- Check
- To correct patient
- The doctors order for specific instruction
- General condition diagnosis of the patient
- Inspect the body part for any lesions of the skin
- Determine the duration and frequency of the treatment
- Assess the contraindication to the application of heat
- Self-care ability to follow instructions
- Articles available in the unit.
Preparation of the Patient and Environment
- Explain the sequence of the patient Provide privacy if needed
- Arrange the articles at the bedside
- Drape the part according to the need and expose only the needed part
- Position the patient comfortable according to the need
- Place a Mackintosh and towel under the patient to prevent protect the bed
- Expose the area and apply the olive oil, on the part to prevent bums.
Equipment
- A kettle of boiling water
- Wringer with wringer rods placed in basin
- Lint or funnel pieces to apply warmth
- Plates-2 to take the compress to the patient side.
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