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Forum Name: Surgery Topics

Question: post umbilical hernia surgery drainage

smummert - Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:29 am

My husband had umbilical hernia surgery on Friday, December 1st. He had redness and swelling on Sunday December 3rd and the doctor called in doxycycline for infection. Today was his last day of the prescription. He woke up this morning and thought he had peed on himself in bed or something because the bed was damp when he got up to go to the restroom he noticed blood running down his stomach and went to the bed and there were several spots in the bed. Of course the sheets were red so it was hard to see if the draining was discolored or all blood. He has had to put a dressing on it today and change it four times due to draining but it appears to have a little yellowish color in the blood. Is this something we should call the doctor for or is this normal??

Theresa Jones, RN - Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:35 am

Hi smummert, Typically in the first two-three days post op there is some degree of drainage which usually decreases each day. If he is experiencing the amount of drainage that you have described, notify the surgeon as this is an abnormal amount. Redness, swelling, increased drainage, Fever, chills, etc. are all warning signs that that there may be an underlying problem. Notify his physician. Sincerely, Theresa Jones, RN

Dr. Tino Anthony Solomon - Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:40 pm

Hello there, Although some drainage post-op is expected, due to inflammatory fluid and fluid from anatomical spaces created in the surgery, the signs you describe are consistent with an infection. These may be a superficial or deep seated wound infection. There may be an element of wound breakdown or dehiscence as well and it would be difficult to tell unless inspected visually. I strongly advise you to return to your emergency department or to the surgeon who performed the procedure for a wound inspection and necessary action to be taken. Kind Regards, Dr Tino Solomon BSc(Hons) MBBS Senior House Officer in Surgery

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