Is the procedure an outpatient or inpatient procedure? | OP of an abscess

Is the procedure an outpatient or inpatient procedure?

Scar after abscess splitting

Many people who have undergone abscess surgery worry about the scarring that this procedure can cause. Scars can occur, but their size and characteristics vary greatly from person to person. It depends very much on the tissue of the individual and the type of operation.

Very large incisions, skin areas where the skin is under strong tension and wound healing disorders can lead to pronounced scarring. However, the cosmetic results after abscess surgery are often very satisfactory and the scars are very small. For a good wound healing it is very important to follow the hygiene recommendations and to refrain from smoking and alcohol consumption. Furthermore, heavy physical strain until the wound has healed should be avoided, as these can also disturb the wound healing.

Risks during the operation of an abscess

As with any other operation, there are certain risks associated with an abscess operation. There are both general and specific surgical risks. The general risks of abscess surgery include bleeding, injury to surrounding tissue, injury to nerves, muscles or adjacent organs, and infection.

However, these complications are rare, but the patient must be informed about them. After an operation, a recurrence, i.e. a reappearance of an abscess at the operated site, can occur. Through a thorough procedure and good aftercare, we try to minimize this risk as much as possible.

A severe complication of an abscess operation is the development of blood poisoning. However, this complication is very rare. As after every operation, wound healing disorders and scarring can occur.

Duration of sick leave

The duration of a sick leave after an abscess surgery differs depending on the course of the surgery and the condition of the patient. Superficial abscesses that have been operated on on an outpatient basis usually do not require a long sick leave. Work can often be resumed the very next day, provided it is not heavy physical work or work that otherwise impairs wound healing.

The course of the operation also plays an important role. If the operation has brought complications, the patient will of course be put on sick leave until his or her health improves. Larger abscesses and extensive operations may even require a sick leave of several weeks.

This is the case with intestinal abscesses, for example. These are treated as in-patients and usually take at least two to three weeks before the patient can be discharged.The duration of a sick leave cannot therefore be given as a general rule and depends very much on the individual’s course, state of health and type of work.