Friday, July 3, 2009

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HOT SITZ BATH

A partial emersion bath covering the pelvic and the anal areas.

Effects:
1. Relieves pain after rectal operation.
2. Hastens healing and cleaning of the operated area.
3. Relives cramps and spasms in the pelvic region and urinary bladder.
4. Stimulates pelvic circulation.
5. Relaxes urinary bladder.

Things needed:
1. One large basin-deep enough for a person to sit in.
2. One smaller basin with ice or cold water and compress.
3. One towel, long enough to go around the head.
4. One smaller basin for the footbath.
5. A sheet or blanket for wrapping around the body.
6. One Bath towel.
7. One large kettle for boiling of water.
8. One chair or stool.

Procedure:
1. Boil water in large kettle.
2. Put the large basin on the chair or on the floor, with small amount of water, hot enough for the patient to sit in it.
3. Remove clothing, underwear and under dressings if there are any. Drape with sheet or blanket.
4. Assist the patient to sit on the basin, placing the feet in the smaller basin of hot water.
5. Apply cold compress on the forehead and gradually add hot water to the hot sits basin and the foot basin, increasing the water temperature to the patient’s tolerance. Stir the water with hand as you add hot water. Be careful not to pour hot water on the patient’s buttocks and feet.
6. Renew cold compress to the head as often as you can. Continue adding hot water for from 20 to 30 minutes.
7. At the end of the treatment, pour cold water to the hot sits bath basin. Raise the feet and pour cold water to the feet and dry well.
8. Assist the patient out of the basin and give warm shower or sponge bath.
9. Let patient rest and keep warm after treatment.

Note: Hot sits bath is best done in the bathroom for the floor is likely to get wet.

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