diathermy

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diathermy

diathermy , therapeutic measure used in medicine to generate heat in the body tissues. Electrodes and other instruments are used to transmit electric current to surface structures, thereby increasing the local blood circulation and facilitating and accelerating the process of absorption and repair. Diathermy is used for arthritis, bursitis, and other disorders of the tendons and muscles, as well as for certain other conditions requiring tissue repair. Because of the high-frequency current used in shortwave diathermy, care must be taken to avoid burning the patient's skin or injuring the deeper tissues.

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diathermy

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Â© A Dictionary of Nursing 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

diathermy (dy-ă-therm-i) n. the production of heat in a part of the body by means of a high-frequency electric current passed between two electrodes placed on the patient's skin. The principle of diathermy is utilized in various surgical instruments (e.g. d. knives, forceps, and scissors) to coagulate tissues and seal off blood vessels. d. snare (or needle) a snare (or needle) used to destroy unwanted tissue and to remove small superficial neoplasms. See also electrosurgery.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

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