Hernia Repair Surgery Post discharge advice. Patient Information

Transcription

1 Hernia Repair Surgery Post discharge advice Patient Information

2 Hernia Repair Surgery This leaflet has been developed to give you some general information about your recovery following your hernia repair surgery. Please do not hesitate to ask your Doctor or Nurse if you have any further questions. Wound Care When can I remove my dressing? You may have a dressing covering your wound/s which should remain in place until you are instructed to remove it by your Surgeon or Nurse. This is usually within hours following surgery. During this time, try to keep it undisturbed, clean and dry. Do not change it unless: It becomes loose It becomes wet, either through water or blood There is discharge coming through the dressing (a small amount of discharge can be normal and does not indicate the need for a change of dressing) If I need to change my dressing, how do I do this? Wash your hands thoroughly Peel the old dressing off slowly to avoid damaging the surrounding skin Wash hands again Take the wrapping off the new dressing, holding it by the outside only and press onto the wound/s firmly. Don t touch the incision line with your hands Wash your hands again when finished

3 After you have removed the dressing as instructed (it is easier to allow the dressing to soak off whilst in the shower), you should check the wound site in case there are any signs of infection (see notes at the end of this leaflet). Redness / Bruising There may be some redness or bruising around the wound site this is normal and should subside within a few days. If you are male and have had an inguinal (groin) hernia repair, you may experience some scrotal bruising and swelling. This may take a couple of weeks to subside. Have I got stitches which need to be removed? Types of skin closures Nowadays there are various ways to keep the skin edges together following your procedure, to allow them to knit together. These include: Non absorbable stitches (these need to be removed) Absorbable stitches (these dissolve over time and do not need to be removed) Paper skin closures or butterfly stitches (these need to be removed or are left until they fall off naturally) Skin glue (this dissolves over time and does not need to be removed)

4 You will be informed by your Surgeon or Nurse which type of skin closure you have and if and when they need to be removed. Leaving skin closures (which should be removed) in the skin for too long can cause inflammation and infection. Therefore it is important to keep your appointment for the removal of any skin closures. Pain relief / medication You may have some pain or discomfort after your hernia repair surgery. It is important to take your painkillers as you have been advised. If you are experiencing discomfort, it is advisable to take pain relief regularly especially for the first few days as this will help your mobility. If pain persists and is not controlled with the medication you have been advised to take, then please contact the hospital for further advice. If you were taking any tablets before you came into hospital, it is important that you continue to take them when you go home, unless we advise you against this. Can I have a bath or shower? Generally it is fine to have a shower after 48 hours. But please follow the instructions given to you by your Surgeon / Nurse. Have a shower in preference to a bath Try not to use soaps, lotions, creams, powders etc directly on your wound/s Let the clean water wash over the wound/s gently do not rub or try to clean it with your hands as this could cause pain and prevent healing

5 Dry your wound/s by carefully patting it with a clean towel Eating and drinking It is important not to become constipated. A diet of fresh fruit, vegetables and other high fibre foods is recommended, as this will help prevent constipation and aid healing. Driving When can I drive again? Do not drive until you are confident about controlling your vehicle in an emergency and always check with your insurance company first. Returning to normal activities If you had a sedative or a general anaesthetic - you should not drive, operate machinery or drink alcohol for 24 hours afterwards. You will need somebody to accompany you home and to stay with you for 24 hours until the effects have fully worn off. For the first day or two after your operation, you should rest and relax. Avoid strenuous activity for 6 weeks this includes heavy lifting and house work [no shopping, hoovering, washing etc]. When can I return to work? When you can return to work depends upon the type of work you do. It is normally around one to two weeks before patients are able to return to work. However, if you have to do heavy lifting

6 or very physical work it may take longer to recover fully enough to return. Your Surgeon will advise you on the amount of time you will need to be away from work, and you can obtain a medical certificate before you leave the hospital. When should I contact the hospital or seek urgent medical attention? Wound infection If you are concerned about your wound or if you develop a high temperature the following signs may mean you have a wound infection and you are advised to contact the hospital or your GP for advice; You see increased redness or swelling around your wound/s You feel increased pain around your wound/s You see excessive discharge or bleeding from your wound/s You notice pus in your wound/s (yellow or green discharge) You notice an unpleasant smell coming from your wound/s Thrombosis or Embolism On rare occasions some patients develop a blood clot. The following signs may indicate that you have developed a blood clot in your leg (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) or that it may have travelled to your lungs (pulmonary embolus or PE). If you suffer from any of these symptoms you must also seek urgent medical attention (e.g. by going to A&E or calling for an ambulance);

7 Increased pain, swelling, redness or heat in your leg Shortness of breath, coughing up blood or chest pain For more information on DVT/PE, please ask to see our seperate leaflet. If you are unsure about any of the above of anything else please contact the hospital who will advise you of the best course of action. References and further information: 1. Hernia Information Accessed Nov NHS choices website, hernia information. Available From: Accessed Nov NICE (2004) Laparoscopic surgery for inguinal hernia repair

8 Additional Comments HERNIA REPAIR SURGERY - v2.0 CL R Issue date: Nov 2011 Review date: Nov 2014