It turns out that not only at home you can hear: "Put the cold." In medical institutions, local cold therapy is also prescribed. Often an ice bladder is used for these purposes. Why is this procedure prescribed? How is it performed and does it have contraindications?
What does an ice bubble look like
The role of an ice bubble almost always is played by a container of thick-walled rubber with a wide neck, onto which the lid is screwed tightly. At the time of the procedure, crushed ice or snow is poured into the container, and then chilled water is added to about 10 ° C.
Familiar heating pads are sometimes used by everyone, but they are filled with saline and cooled in a freezer. As a substitute for an ice bladder, a special cold gel can be used.
What does it give?
The use of an ice bladder in medicine is explained by the fact that local cooling allows you to narrow blood vessels and reduce the sensitivity of nerve receptors in a certain area. Exposure to cold gives the following effects:
- weakening of pain;
- reduction or complete stop of bleeding from small vessels, which helps prevent the appearance of hematomas;
- lowering the temperature;
- reduction in symptoms of inflammation;
- decrease in oxygen consumption by brain cells.
The application of the described effects occurs in most areas of medicine, but most often it is necessary for resuscitators, neonatologists, surgeons, cosmetologists, neuropathologists and cardiac surgeons. True, cardiac surgeons do not use an ice pack, but the cooling of blood in the system.
Indications for local cold therapy
The use of an ice pack is necessary in the following cases:
- after overheating or heat stroke;
- to reduce the effects of insect bites;
- with loss of consciousness, migraines (a decrease in brain oxygen consumption can reduce brain damage);
- with pulling and aching pains in the abdomen;
- to reduce and stop post-traumatic and internal bleeding;
- with bruises, damage to tendons and ligaments (during the first day after an injury);
- after abdominal or cosmetic (plastic) operations;
- to improve the condition of the uterus in the postpartum period;
- to reduce exposure to tissue calcium chloride (in case of accidental contact).
Ice bubble for small and newborn babies
Local cooling is used as a way to lower the temperature of small children. The use of an ice pack can be recommended if it is not possible to take antipyretic drugs or they do not have the desired effect.
Newborn babies are prescribed an ice bladder after asphyxiation or when receiving a birth injury. In this case, the effect of reducing the consumption of oxygen by the brain cells is triggered.
Contraindications
Despite the apparent simplicity, the procedure is quite serious. Like many medical manipulations, it can be performed not always and not for everyone. Contraindications to the use of an ice bladder include:
- shock with a decrease in blood pressure and cold extremities;
- collapse;
- hypothermia;
- high temperature at which cold hands and feet (in this case, the use of antispasmodics is necessary);
- cramping abdominal pain ;
- paralysis or paresis.
Ice bubble preparation
It has already been indicated above that it is necessary to lay snow or crushed ice in the bubble and add cold water. However, this is not all. When using an ice bubble, the preparation algorithm is as follows:
- The filled bubble should be placed horizontally and the excess air released to make the container softer and more pliable.
- After that, the cap is screwed and checked for leaks.
- The outer side is wiped dry, only after that the bubble is applied to the appointed place.
Application technique
The technique of using an ice bubble includes several mandatory rules:
- Cold is never applied to exposed skin. Between the bladder and the skin is always placed several times folded tissue.
- The application time should not exceed 20 minutes.
- After a cold therapy session, an examination of the skin is always carried out.
- A break between sessions of at least 20 minutes.
- The number of sessions is prescribed by the doctor.
- At the end of the procedure, the bubble is freed from residual contents, disinfected and stored open.
Qualified medical personnel never leave a bubble in the freezer. Use for cooling blocks of ice is unacceptable!