Appendectomy surgery is a common procedure that involved the removal of the appendix. Thousands of appendectomies are performed every year throughout the United States and post-operative care is straightforward. Patients should take care of their wounds for the first few weeks after surgery to ensure complete healing. With the right techniques, patients can expect a full recovery in a short time.
It’s important to know about potential complications after appendix surgery as well as techniques to take care of the wound. Here, we’ll discuss wound care from post-surgery to full recovery.
Wound care immediately after surgery
Immediately after an appendectomy, patients could run into compilations. Some complications include:
- Peritonitis
- Perforated colon
- Intra-abdominal abscesses
- General infection of the abdomen
Follow-up visits with the appendectomy physician are common after the procedure. The doctor can run tests and discuss discomfort issues that may arise after surgery. In rare instances, additional surgery may be required to resolve problems. In any case, patients should not hesitate to discuss pain or other complications they experience after surgery.
Considerations after an appendectomy
Proper care from the inside out is essential for a full recovery after an appendectomy. With the right wound care, rest, and diet, a patient can recover in full in just a few weeks after surgery. Here are a few guidelines to consider when recovering from an appendectomy.
Avoiding wound infection
As with any post-surgery wound, the biggest risk to the patient is a wound infection. The skin is very thin at the incision site and can easily collect bacteria, causing an infection. If left untreated, infections can cause more than just skin irritation.
A doctor may prescribe an antibiotic as a precaution to help lower the chances of an infection. Washing the wound with an antibacterial soap regularly can also be helpful.
Most importantly, a proper wound bandage, secured with Hy-Tape, will help keep bacteria away from the opening. Hy-Tape holds tightly to both skin and bandages. This helps ensure that no foreign material or bacteria enters the wound area or the wound itself. With proper bandaging and taping, avoiding infection can be much easier.
Careful wound dressing replacement
Changing wound dressings is always important after surgery. Doctors will be able to provide specifics on wound bandage replacement. Most commonly, a doctor will want a patient to keep the initial bandage on for a few days before making daily changes. This gives the wound an opportunity to do some initial healing before being exposed to the open air for any amount of time.
Clean bandages made of soft materials are always best for an appendectomy wound. Carefully removing and applying bandages can be done every day or two beginning a few days after surgery. Careful removal of the dressing is vital to avoid damage to the skin or opening the incision.
A fresh bandage is only as good as the tape that holds it in place. Hy-Tape is the perfect tape for securing a wound dressing. It adheres to any type of bandaging material as well as the skin. At the same time, it can peel off easily when it’s time for a dressing change. This helps the wound to heal quicker and provides peace of mind for the patient that the healing process is continuing.
Bathing after surgery
In the first few days after an appendectomy, patients should not bathe as the water can cause issues for the wound bandage and the wound itself. After the wound has healed a little bit, careful bathing is fine. Removing the bandage and softly washing the wound with soap and water will help keep the wound clean and help avoid infection.
Immediately after bathing, a fresh, dry wound dressing must be applied to the incision point. Patting the skin dry and applying a new dressing will keep it safe from infection. Adhering the dressing with Hy-Tape will also assist in keeping bacteria out of the incision area.
Diet and rest
While many patients may not think much about it, diet and rest are absolutely vital to the wound-healing process. After any surgery, the body needs to rest and repair from the inside out. Relaxing, sleeping more, and not lifting heavy objects can all assist In the healing process after an appendectomy.
Diet is also essential after experiencing any abdominal surgery. The appendix is part of the large intestine, a main organ involved in digestion. Eating and drinking easily digestible foods and liquids can provide an easy workload for the intestine as the healing process continues.
Choose Hy-Tape for Appendectomy Wound Care
Whenever a patient needs proper taping of a wound bandage, Hy-Tape is the best option on the market. The product is designed to hold well without damaging the skin, all the while protecting the skin against infection.
Hy-Tape is designed with an adhesive that holds tightly against the skin. This adhesive locks out bacteria and other foreign materials, keeping the wound bandage in place and protecting the skin.
Hy-Tape is waterproof, making it ideal for wound bandages that may encounter water. When patients need to bathe with a bandage on, Hy-Tape will keep water from entering underneath the bandage. It can also be used to secure a waterproof bandage over the wound.
Hy-Tape utilizes a special zinc oxide formula that provides skin protection. When the tape is removed, the skin isn’t pulled, the wound isn’t reopened, and the skin remains undamaged.
Whether a patient or caregiver, consider Hy-Tape as your go-to bandage tape of choice. Contact our team today to learn more about Hy-Tape or to place an order.