Surgical Wound Care

Taking care of a surgical incision or open wound, managing your pain, and increasing your activity level are important after surgery. You should also know the warning signs of a surgical site infection (SSI) and how to prevent complications with proper hand cleaning and wound care. 

Incisions may be closed with sutures (stitches), staples, Steri-Strips^®, or tissue adhesive (skin glue).  

Follow your doctor’s instructions for removing the dressing, cleaning, and caring for the wound after surgery. You may have been told to use a special dressing for your wound and should be shown how to apply it.

• Use tap water or take a shower for wound cleaning. It is usually safe to shower 48 hours after surgery.
• Do not soak in baths, swimming pools, or hot tubs until your incision is healed.
• Do not use disinfectants like hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or iodine.

Remove the postoperative dressing if:

• There is increased redness, swelling, or drainage
• Wound pain or pressure cannot be controlled by medication
• You suspect there is wound separation

Call your doctor if you experience any of these signs:

• Increased drainage or bleeding that won’t stop with direct pressure
• Redness beyond the incision or wound
• Wound tissue that changes from pink to white, yellow, or black in color
• Foul odor or pus coming from the wound
• Increased size or depth of the wound
• Increased swelling around the wound
• Fever about 101°F (38.3°C) or shaking/chills
• Pain at the wound site that does not go away, even after taking pain medicine
• If the wound has split open
• If your stitches or staples have come out too soon 

Petrolatum gauze provides a non-adherent covering over sutures, staples or shallow wounds.

Do not apply petrolatum gauze over steri-strips or skin glue.

You may be directed to use petrolatum gauze as below. Discuss with your provider.

Step 1

Open the petrolatum gauze packet.

Step 2

Use clean scissors to cut the petrolatum gauze into strips (if needed).

Step 3

Place on the clean incision or wound. Cover the entire incision or wound.

Step 4

Cover with a clean, dry secondary dressing, like an abdominal pad. Secure with paper tape.

DISCLAIMER

This information is published to educate you about preparing for your surgical procedures. It is not intended to take the place of a discussion with a qualified surgeon who is familiar with your situation. It is important to remember that each individual is different, and the reasons and outcomes of any operation depend upon the patient’s individual condition.

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization that is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery; it was founded to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient. The ACS has endeavored to present information for prospective surgical patients based on current scientific information; there is no warranty on the timeliness, accuracy, or usefulness of this content.