Discharge Information Treatment Centre (EN) Discharge Information Treatment Centre (EN)

Wound care

• You may shower after 24 hours / 48 hours / three days, short showers and not too hot.
• Do not take a bath / swim, as long as the sutures are still there.
• Showering from the shoulders down / hold a cup on the ear.
• Keep the wound dry for 2 weeks.
• No swimming for the first 6 weeks.
• Dissoluble sutures.
• Sutures are removed during the after-care appointment / by the family doctor, after days.
• Replace the plaster after 24 hours, if necessary, with a clean bandage; once the wound is dry, there is no need to keep a plaster on the wound.
• In the case of oral surgery, the wound can bleed a bit afterwards. Fold a piece of gauze and bite on it firmly for 30 minutes. Do not rinse and do not use cotton wool.
• Starting the day after the procedure: rinse the mouth four times daily with salt water. For this, dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of lukewarm water. Sometimes, an oral rinse will be prescribed.
• Remove pressure bandage after days / leave it on until follow-up appointment.
• After the surgery, support the wound area during an increase in pressure, such as defecating and coughing, either with your hand or a support cushion.
• Please take into account a blue discolouration and possible slight swelling in the wound area and scrotum / labia majora.
• The operation can cause your cheek or lip to swell up considerably. This is a normal phenomenon.

Pain relief

• Take Paracetamol: 4 x daily 1000 mg. at fixed times (7am-12 noon-5pm-10pm). Once you have no more pain, you should stop taking the Paracetamol.
• If not sufficiently effective: Paracetamol 1000 mg. in combination with 1 tablet Ibuprofen 400 mg. (Up to 4 times daily). This combination may be used for up to three days. Ibuprofen should not be used in combination with Diclofenac (Voltaren) or Arcoxia.
• According to prescription.
• Your own pain medication.

Blood thinning medications

• Ascal / Acetosal: resume the day after surgery.
• Acenocoumarol (Sintrommitis), Phenprocoumon (Marcoumar): restart according to specifications of thrombosis service.

Diet

• no restrictions;
• high fibre;
• follow guidelines as described on attached list;
• after dairy products, rinse with cold water (in connection with mucus formation);
• extend dietary intake as guided by symptoms. Not too hot and go from liquids to solid foods.

Moving around (mobilisation)

• Basically, no restrictions.
• Weight-bearing based on the pain level.
• For effective wound healing, take care with surgical field.
• For the first 3 days, place the affected hand / foot up high on a cushion, should not pinch. After three days, depending on the pain, let the hand/foot hang down a bit more.
• Use a sling for day/days.
• Weight-bearing using crutches forday/days.
• Mobilise as directed by the physical therapist.
• Wear a good, supportive bra after surgery, keep bra on during the first night/for weeks wear 24 hours/day
• No under-wire bra
• Immobilise according to instructions.
• In case of shoulder repair surgery:
• Arm may be taken out of immobiliser for showering and dressing.
  Do not lift arm and do not turn outwards.
  Arm is allowed to swing.
  
  

• No heavy lifting for weeks.
• Mobilise using postoperative orthopaedic shoe for weeks
• Limit lifting of arms
• Other recommendations

Complications/problems?

You should contact:

• in case of haemorrhaging;
• in case of fever above 38.5º Celsius;
• in case of severe, abnormal pain;
• if you do not trust the situation.

Contact

For complications as a result of the procedure, please call the outpatient clinic of your specialist during office hours. For complications as a result of the procedure, please contact -outside office hours- the Isala reception desk and they will connect you to the Emergency Department. This can be reached at 088 624 50 00.

• General surgery 088 624 62 95
• Plastic surgery 088 624 56 36
• Ear, nose and throat surgery 088 624 23 84
• Orthopaedics 088 624 56 56
• Oral surgery 088 624 28 81

The employees of the Isala Treatment Centre wish you a speedy recovery.