What do you have to pay attention to after the opening of an abscess?
In some cases the abscess must be opened with an incision. After the opening of the abscess pus can escape. This relieves the abscess.
If the procedure is performed as an outpatient, the patient must be picked up. During the day of the operation he should not drive a car or operate machines. In the first few days after the opening of the abscess, a lot of wound secretion can still drain away.
The dressing should be changed regularly. Rinsing the wound supports the healing process. If an elevated body temperature is measured after the opening or other complaints occur, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
Depending on the location of the abscess, certain measures and more or less time for healing are necessary. If there is a risk that bacteria are still in the wound, antibiotics are administered to kill them completely. This can be done in tablet form, as an infusion or with the help of antibiotic carriers during the surgical procedure.
It is important to conscientiously follow the care and hygiene measures after the opening. If it is a large abscess, the abscess must be surgically removed. First of all, an opening is performed and inflamed, damaged tissue and pus are removed.
Wound healing takes several months with these procedures. If the abscess cannot be completely removed, a drainage is placed for 6-8 weeks. After that regular medical check-ups are required.
The patient is instructed how to treat the wound and how to support further wound healing. In some cases, surrounding tissue may be affected, which can lead to functional limitations. Sometimes additional occupational or physiotherapy is also necessary.
In very rare cases, the inflammation cannot be removed with a single operation and the operation must be repeated. In addition, the abscess may reappear. In these cases, a repeated opening of the abscess may be necessary.
