Surgical wound care is important to prevent infection and other postoperative complications. The treatment in question includes changing the bandage, keeping the operating wound dry, and preventing surgical sutures from being torn off due to certain activities.
In addition to preventing infections and other complications due to surgery, understanding how to properly treat surgical wounds is also needed to maximize the results of surgery. This is because the results of surgery are not only determined by the success of the surgery, but also by wound care after surgery.
Surgical Wound Care Needs to Know
The following is a share of surgical wound care that can be done:
1. Do not touch the operating wound
One of the surgical wound care that needs to be done is to keep the surgical wound from being exposed to water. Surgical injuries should not be exposed to water in the first 24 hours after surgery. Therefore, you are advised not to take a shower on the first day. To clean the body, you can wipe it off using a cloth or sponge.
In certain types of surgery, you may be allowed to take a shower on the second day. However, you will be advised to take a shower with a shower to make it easier to adjust the direction of the water away from the area of the surgical wound. This needs to be done because the wet surgical wound can open again.
You are also not allowed to swim or soak until the stitches are removed. If the bandage is wet and the surgical wound is exposed to water, you need to replace the bandage and dry the wound with a dry towel. Ask your doctor if you need to wear waterproof bandages.
2. Change the Bandage Cover Operation Periodically
Bandages are used to help protect the surgical wound from external injuries and provide an opportunity for the wound to heal faster. However, the bandages need to be changed regularly. The surgeon will tell you when and how to change the bandage.
The following are the steps that need to be taken when changing bandages:
- First, do not use jewelry on your fingers and hands while changing bandages and keep pets away if you maintain them.
- Wash your hands with running water and soap before and after changing the bandages, and use gloves to remove the bandages.
- You can wet the bandage with clean water before opening to provide comfort when the bandage is pulled. However, ask your surgeon first.
- After the bandage is removed, you can clean the surgical wound and the skin around the wound with gauze soaked in a saline infusion solution. Wipe slowly and gently.
- Don't use antibacterial soap or other antiseptic liquids, such as alcohol or povidone iodine. These liquids can actually delay healing or even damage the skin.
- Do not apply any herbal medicine creams, solutions or powders when performing surgical wound treatments, unless permitted by a doctor.
- Finally, dry the wound with gauze or soft cloth that is clean and dry.
When changing bandages, don't forget to pay attention to the surgical wound. Surgical wound infections can usually occur within the first month after surgery. Some of the signs are red and pus-like surgical wound, and the area around the wound becomes swollen, warm, and painful.
Immediately consult a surgeon if you experience these complaints. Please note, surgery wound infection can also be accompanied by fever.
3. Suture to Not Tear
Care for abdominal wounds needs special attention because they are more prone to tearing compared to surgical wounds in other parts of the body. This is because the pressure in the stomach often increases, for example due to coughing, sneezing, or straining during bowel movements.
To prevent surgical sutures from tearing at the abdomen, you can use the following methods:
- If you want to sneeze, cough, or vomit, hold the pillow gently but firmly over the surgical wound. This action needs to be done in the first weeks after surgery ..
- Increase consumption of fiber in your diet and consult a doctor if you experience constipation after surgery. Your doctor can give you laxatives.
Meanwhile, in general, actions that need to be taken to prevent stitches from tearing in any part of the body are:
- Do not scratch the surgical wound even though it feels itchy, because this action risks causing the suture to loosen.
- Avoid sports that can cause pressure on the suture area, such as playing soccer, badminton, or other strenuous sports.
4. When do you need to remove the stitches?
The stitching time is determined based on the location of the surgical wound. The following is the time of suture removal based on the location of the surgical wound:
- Face: 3-5 days
- Scalp and arms: 7-10 days
- Chest, stomach, hands and legs: 10-14 days
- Palms and feet: 14-21 days
While the stitches in the joint area requires a longer time to remove the stitches.
You need to know, not all stitches must be removed. There are several types of surgical threads that can be absorbed by the body after some time, so there is no need to remove the stitches.
By applying the correct way of operating wound care and following the doctor's orders, the results of the operation will be optimal and the possibility for complications after surgery will be smaller. Do not hesitate to contact a doctor, if you encounter any obstacles during surgical treatment.
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