Post Op Care
POST-OP CARE
Jerry K. Myers, M.D.
Home health care will vary with each specific problem. The following surgeries require an incision with absorbable or removable sutures placed in: breast biopsies, any type skin biopsies, inguinal hernias, abdominal hernias and any other type soft tissue excision are examples of the above. Surgical dressings can be taken off at any time after 24 hours. Ideally, it would be best not to bathe the incision for the next 2 days until good wound healing has occurred. Simply taping Saran Wrap over the wound will prevent excessive wetness of it during your bath or shower. Occasionally, especially on breast biopsies, a suture will be noted protruding from each end of the wound. This will be removed by me at your office visit, which is usually within 7-10 days following surgery. If absorbable sutures are used no removal is necessary as they will dissolve.
Many out-patient surgery procedures are done in a very short period of time and you are discharged prior to full discussion of the situation by me. Details have usually been given to your family which can be relayed to you. My office staff will be calling you within the next 24 hours simply to make sure that all your questions have been answered and that you are not having any problems from your surgical procedure.
As stated above, if any problems arise in which you have any questions, please notify me at that time. Most specifically, if fever occurs, inflammation or redness around the wound, please notify me prior to your first office visit. It is not unusual for surgical wounds to be indurated or swollen. This is a normal inflammatory healing process. However, the tenderness and inflammatory response should improve daily and if it does not, this is an indication of a process that may need to be addressed. Wound hematomas occasionally occur and may spontaneously drain. This drainage appears as a bloody material that is usually a reddish serum and presents more of a nuisance to the healing process than a major problem. Wound infections, as stated, appear as a red, firm and tender area sometimes with a pustular drainage.
