• specific instructions related to cleaning their wound.
During a procedure, patients face an onslaught of information, so it
helps to break down care into its simplest terms. Never assume your
patient has fully processed all their post-op directives. "They do miss
basic instructions and education," says Dr. Heneghan.
1 3 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Instruct your patients to
call the surgeon should
they see these worrisome
wound signs:
1. Increased drainage or
bleeding that won't
stop with direct pres-
sure.
2. Redness in or around
the wound.
3. A wound tissue that
changes from pink to white, yellow or black in color.
4. A foul odor or pus coming from the wound.
5. Increased size or depth of the wound.
6. Increased swelling around the wound.
7. A fever of 101 degrees or shaking/chills.
8. Pain at the wound site that does not go away, even after tak-
ing pain medicine.
9. If the wound has split open.
10. If your stitches or staples have come out too soon.
— American College of Surgeons
10 Signs of Trouble
• KEEP IT CLEAN Conversations before surgery set patients up
with the skills they need to care for surgical wounds at home.
