Question:
Infection at surgical site.

I have developed an infection at my incision, I was to have laproscopic however due to some complications I had to have one 6 inch incision made, I feel the drain tube was taken out to soon and develope an infection at this incision, I am 4 weeks post op and would like to know if there is anyone who has had this happen and if so how long did it take to heal or at least stop draining.    — Debra Wicker (posted on August 26, 2006)

August 26, 2006
That's almost exactly what happened to me. The day after the drain was taken out I started feeling really weak. Within a few days I was so weak I couldn't walk more than about 10-15 feet without being completely exhausted. I went in to the hospital and they reopened about 1 inch of my incision to allow the infection to drain out through packing the wound and allow it to heal from the inside-out. That started back on July 5, and I've still got a small hole in my stomach that I pack every day with a gauze strip. Other than the inconvenience of trying to keep it dry and changing the dressing each day, it's hasn't been too much to deal with. If they performed the same procedure for you, the time it takes to heal will depend alot on how large of an area was infected before it was caught and drained again. Don't rush it, just let it heal up right so you don't have to worry about it again in the future. One good piece of advise I was given was to use a maxi pad to cover the wound. They are better than any medical gauze or pad that I was ever given when it comes to soaking up the infection and/or blood that drains from the site.
   — cburky911

August 26, 2006
I personally did not - I had laproscopic - my SIL had identical prob & had to go back to hospital & they opened her incision to let it drain, then she had to pack it for several weeks - a home nurse came for a few wks. also. Good Luck - by the way she is just fine now!!!!
   — Kathleen F.

August 26, 2006
I had Open RNY 5/10, 5 days later a Emergency Hernia Op. All went well TILL they took the Staples out. I believe they should have waited another week on the Hernia Incision Staples, as a week late an area on this Incision became Inflamed. And then my surgeon out of the US on a Charity Caring Tour of Africa. I went to my Primary which put me on Anti-biotics and suggested I wait for my surgeon to return. Well three days later it Openned up, draining. Thus from Primary, Heavier Anti-biotics & heavier dressings. So I finally saw my Surgeon, they reamed the hole which had openned. He was telling me this was Normal for such larger patients. For all I cared, I was number 1 now. So since then I visit him weekly to get the hole(s), another one openned two weeks later just above the first. A Home Care Nurse comes by every day ro cklean the area, the wound and repacks it with a Flat Packing Strip. Drenched with a GCP Solution (a strong anti-biotic - $74.00 Not Covered By Insurance). Then dresses the wounds. It took two months for the second hole to close which they found out underneath it was connected to the first hole. These holes started at 18 cm deep. Then first hole is down to 3 cm. They tell me the need to heal from the Insides outward. Two and a half months now. I can get around but if I want to go back to work but some of the nurses said they'd have to report it and thus my insurance would cancel the Home Care Nursing. I'd do the packing but it's at an angle that I can't do it. I'm still losing wait though down 100 lbs. since surgery. It should be healed within two weeks, BUT I woke this morning with a Inflamed Belly under the Incision, so here I'm waiting for the nurse then we'll see where I'm headed. Good Luck & many Prayers, Mike
   — Michael Eak