Instructions for Surgical Wound Care at Home
A surgical wound is a cut or incision in the skin that is made during surgery. At the end of an operation, the wound is closed with sutures and is considered sealed to an external environment in 24-48 hours.
The dressing should be changed if blood or discharge has soaked through the dressing, or if it is dirty or damp.
Wound Care and Hygiene
Cleanliness is crucial in wound care. Always wash hands thoroughly before cleaning and dressing the wound. Use hand sanitizer.
- The first postoperative wound care and dressing is usually performed in hospital on the first day after surgery.
- At home clean the wound by cleaning or rinsing with wound irrigation solution (e.g. sterile 0.9% NaCl solution).
- You should shower 24 hours after the operation (if wound strips are on the wound, leave them on and gently pat dry after the shower with clean gauze!).
- Wet the dressing and remove it before showering.
- Gently pat dry the area around the wound using a clean gauze.
- If washing the wound is not possible, rinse it with wound irrigation solution (preferably with room-temperature sterile 0.9% NaCl solution, available at pharmacies).
- Apply a new sterile dressing so that the adhesive part sticks to intact skin and the absorbing pad is covering the wound. We recommend using dressings 3 days after surgery.
- If necessary, replace wound strips. We recommend using strips for 2-4 weeks.
- Avoid rubbing, applying pressure or tension on the wound.
- Smoking slows wound healing and significantly raises complication risks.
- You can go to the sauna, take a bath, or swim 2-3 weeks after the surgery when wounds have completely healed.
- The sutures will dissolve and a scar will form in the incision area. To soften the scar, you can use silicone dressings or gel, available over the counter at pharmacies. The effect may or may not occur after 4-6 months of using silicone products.
- The wound and scar should be protected from UV radiation for 12 months to prevent excessive pigmentation.
NB! There is no need to remove sutures as they are absorbable.
Symptoms of Wound Infection
Swelling and redness of the wound usually disappears 3-4 days after surgery. Observe the wound for potential signs of wound infection and contact your doctor or nurse if:
- You feel weakness or generally unwell
- Your body temperature rises ˃37.5°C
- There is excessive or purulent wound discharge
- There is sudden excessive bleeding from the wound
- Wound takes longer than usual to heal
- The area around the wound becomes red, swollen and painful
Contact: Amsel Clinic
+372 51912119 (nurses post)