Harnessing electrical, light, and sound energy to improve wound healing outcomes.
Educational opportunities, both virtual and onsite, are available from leading experts in the field.
Please contact Pamela Houghton if you are interested in receiving education about E-Stim phoughto@uwo.ca
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Explains what E-Stim is and what type of electrical current is needed to accelerate wound healing. Review neural, cellular, and pathophysiological effects of E-Stim on wound healing processes that are responsible for accelerating healing.
Review and appraisal of published research that has examined the effect of E-Stim on rate of healing and ability to close wounds of various etiologies including pressure injuries, diabetic foot ulcers, and leg wounds due to peripheral venous/arterial disease. Use this information to appreciate what clinical conditions are likely to respond to what type of E-Stim.
Explanation of the medical conditions and patient factors that contraindicate the use of E-Stim for wounds and review of situations where E-Stim should be used more cautiously. This information will help clinicians identify when E-Stim is more likely to produce adverse reactions and who is most likely to benefit from E-Stim therapy.
How electrical currents produced by E-Stim interact with components of common dressing types is described. Learners should be able to decide what dressings and wound care products can and cannot be used during or between E-Stim treatments.
Consider foundational principles that guide the interaction between electrical signals and biological tissues. Learn the terminology and conventions used when using electrical currents in clinical situations. Potential adverse reactions are explained and strategies to address are discussed.
Review images and explanations of the steps involved in applying E-Stim to an open wound using a monopolar electrode technique. Understand the rationale for the selection of stimulus parameters and electrode, size, type, and placement. Alternate application techniques are also presented.
What Ifs exercise. Consider some of the common situations that are likely to occur when doing E-Stim treatments. Assess whether the response is desirable or not and describe how you will change the E-Stim set up to optimize the patient and wound response. AFTER you have considered all the “What Ifs scenarios”, check your answers in the document provided. Successful completion of these What If scenarios is a good indicator of your mastery of the knowledge, skills, and advanced clinical decisions required to use E-Stim in your practice.