Swelling after surgery
Swelling that occurs after surgery is very common. The reason for this is inflammatory reactions with which the body reacts to the tissue damage caused by the operation. Depending on the operation, a drainage is inserted into the surgical site for a few days to allow inflammatory fluid to drain away.
In addition to the swelling, the area may also redden after the operation. These are also signs of a normal reaction of the body to the trauma of the operation. It is important that the wound heals quickly and the swelling subsides.
If the swelling does not subside and there is no reduction in redness, it must be assumed that an infection has developed during or after the operation. In this case antibiotic treatment should be administered. If swelling suddenly occurs after the operation, this can always be due to bleeding caused by a torn blood vessel.
Sometimes the swelling then turns a bluish shimmer. In this case an ultrasound examination can clarify the exact cause. Swelling caused by larger bleedings after the operation should be removed surgically.
How do I treat swelling?
The therapy of swelling generally requires that one knows the reason for the swelling. Therefore, one should always first treat the cause that led to the swelling. General measures are always indicated in parallel.
These general measures include consistent cooling with ice, which should be carried out several times a day, and anti-inflammatory measures. Drugs such as ibuprofen or diclofenac should be used to quickly reduce the inflammation. For allergy-related causes, anti-allergic medications such as cetirizine, Fenistil® or cortisone are used as tablets or, in the case of severe swelling, as an infusion.
In the case of tumor-related swellings, the underlying disease must be treated. The same applies to swellings caused by thrombosis. In the case of lymph drainage disorders that can lead to swelling, lymphatic drainage should be carried out at regular intervals.
