Question:
Incision infection and leaking of liquified fat
These are the two post op conditions I'm most concerned about. a. Does incision infection (sounds like lots of people get them) develop from inside out? Or from outside? What can I do to avoid? b. I've read about people oozing a yellow liquid (liquified fat?) from their incision. Please tell me they're kidding. If it is true, why does it happen? Thanks, Cynthia Erskine — Cynthia B. (posted on September 12, 1999)
September 12, 1999
Hi! My doctor Weaver of Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh PA has
his patients wash the incision area with a batadine wash twice a day for
two weeks before the surgery date. To my knowledge he has had no post op
infections. Also after surgery you have to wash your hands before you
change your dressing or what ever. As the old tale goes - 'an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure!'
About the yellow fluid seeping from the wounds....As far as I know fat
cannot liquify. I had some seepage from my wound but it was what they call
serous fluid. I was explained to me this way...When you get burned your
body produces a water blister at the sight of the burn. When there is any
injury to the body, extra fluid goes to take the materials the body uses to
repair the insult. But if I had yellow fluid seep out for more than a day
and there was any pain involved I would be calling the doctor.
Hope this helps. But bottom line...talk to you doctor.
Goodluck,
Wendy
— Wendy Sue D.
September 12, 1999
I did have some oozing from my incision for about a week
and a half after surgery. My surgeon said it was nothing
to worry about and it didn't last long. At about 3 weeks
I had an infection in my incision. He put me on some horse
pill anti-biotics (they were huge and at first I was afraid
to even try getting them down) but my infection was gone
within a couple of days after I started taking them.
— dboat
September 12, 1999
"Pink lemonade". That's what they call the ooze. Seems to happen
to abotu 30% of the locals, anyway. My husband was one. Woke up on Day 10
with his shirt SOAKED. I freaked, of course. He was half asleep and just
scratched his head. No pain, just a nuisance to clean it til it heals.
This actually answers both questions as it gets a small infection just
under the incision. It drains to the outside and is just pus, actually, not
fat. But there's JUST enough blood in the area to color it pink. So,
harmless and painless, but scary when it happens. Certainly not a reason
not to have the surgery!
— vitalady
September 12, 1999
incision infections, unless your surgeon is an incompetent, start from the
outside in. Preventing this is merely a matter of following proper sterile
procedure and changing dressings regularly. Application of a simple
antibiotic ointment to the dressing should prevent the introduction of
bacteria into the wound.
As to liquified fat, while the skin will heal fairly quickly, the muscle
facia takes longer. your body will produce serum which will fill in the
space between the skin and facia. This serum will leak out of the wound
until the facia has sufficiently healed. This is a normal part of most
abdominal incisions and is not normally a cause for concern.
Monitor the appearance of the serum. It should be clear to light amber
colored. if it becomes milky, yellow or greenish, that is a sign of
infrction and must be seen to by a doctor.
If the wound becomes painful or hot to the touch, an infection is also at
work and must be seen to.
If there is no infection, the leaking serum should stop within a week
although that time varies from person to person.
— Ralph F.
September 13, 1999
Hi Cynthia, I had my surgery almost two years ago. I never had an
infection, but I did have that yellowish orange liquid oozing. I was all
scabed over and was surprised to see it I didn't know what it was or where
it came from. It only happened one day, and it was absorbed by the bandage.
Not really a big deal. As long as you keep the the area covered and follow
your Dr.'s directions on cleaning and bandaging you should be fine.
— Ellen M.
September 13, 1999
Cynthia-
I am considering this surgery, have not had it yet. I think that the
yellow liquid oozing, is infection. When my son was 2 months old he had
surgery to relax his esophogas muscles. He got an infection that had to be
opened and it oozed yellow liquid. Needless to say, I nearly fainted, but
the doctor said it would go away. It did with antibiotics. (not that you
really wanted to hear my story, but I am sure that the yellowish liquid is
infection.)
— [Anonymous]
September 13, 1999
Cynthia,
I am almost 4 weeks post op and haven't had any infections or leaking from
my incision. I didn't have a drain tube or anything like that. I also
have a friend that had her surgery at the same time I did. That's how we
became friends and she has had the same results as me. Hope this helps.
Becky
— bperrin
September 13, 1999
Hi Cynthia and everyone: If you have yellow fluid leaking from your
incision don't panic, it's probably NOT infection as the post below states.
Clear yellow fluid is normal body fluid (serum) as someone else stated
below. If it's thick, milky, has a foul odor, or changes in its
characteristics then it may be infection. In that case, notify your doctor
immediately. Some people's bodies (like mine) shunt a large quantity of
fluid to the 'injured' part to promote healing, and if the incision is open
it will leak out. Good handwashing and clean dressings will take care of
that and help prevent infection. Good Luck! Jaye Carl, RN open RNY
7/29/99, 44 pounds gone forever!
— Jaye C.
September 14, 1999
It is not necessarily an indication of infection. Both my original RNY and
my revision a couple weeks ago, I had the yellowish discharge and that is
normal according to the doctors and nurses. If the area becomes hot to the
touch or changes consistency talk to your doctor. If you suspect you have
an infection see your doctor or emergency room immediately. But, the
discharge from the incision is normal to any abdominal surgery, as my nurse
said, "...Don't freak, it may drain a few days, it may not. If it
does its fine..."
— Sherrie G.
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