High Voltage

Question 1

ES: High Voltage Pulsed Galvanic Stimulation - General

Answer 1

• Passage of HVPC decreases skin resistance due to current flowing toward skin capacitors rather than resistors.
• Thermal effects are negligible (little resistance to the current).

Question 2

ES: High Voltage Pulsed Galvanic Stimulation - Parameters

Answer 2

• Paired monophasic waveform
• Instantaneous rise and exponential fall of current
• Continuous, surged or pulsed
• Typically twin-peaked pulses of short duration

Question 3

ES: High Voltage Pulsed Galvanic Stimulation - Wound Healing Concept

Answer 3

• Intact skin surface -ve with respect to deeper epidermal layers
• Injury to skin develops +ve potentials initially and -ve potentials during healing
• Absent or insufficient +ve potentials retard tissue regeneration
• Addition of +ve potentials initially through anode may promote or accelerate healing

Question 4

ES: High Voltage Pulsed Galvanic Stimulation - Parameters

Answer 4

• Amplitude: Comfortable tingling, paresthesia, no muscle reponse
• Pulse rate: 50-200 pps
• Pulse duration: 20-100 microsec
• Duration: 20-60 min\
• Both high volt pulse and low volt continuous can be used
• Clean and debride wound first and pack with sterile saline-soaked gauze.
• Place active electrode over gauze
• For bacterocidal effect AE = (-)
• For culture-free wound, AE = (+)

Question 5

ES: High Voltage Pulsed Galvanic Stimulation - Indications

Answer 5

• Inflammation phase:
  
  • Free from necrosis and exudates, promote granulation
• Proliferation phase:
  
  • Reduce wound size (depth, diameter, tunneling)
• Epithelialization phase:
  
  • Stimulate epidermal proliferation and capillary growth