Few people know how to properly care for a suture after surgery, so, first of all, you need to seek help from a doctor who will tell you in detail how to treat the suture. It is important to know that there should always be hydrogen peroxide in the house; if it is not there, then you need to go to the pharmacy or send one of your close relatives. You will also need to purchase sterile dressings and brilliant green at the pharmacy (it is advisable that these products are always available). home medicine cabinet) . You may also need to purchase special sterile cotton wool, since simple cotton wool will not work in this case - it is needed in order to reduce the risk of infection in the wound. If desired, the cotton wool can be replaced with cotton swabs or disks, but you need to be one hundred percent sure that they are sterile.
If, while still in the hospital, the doctor stopped applying a bandage to the seam, then there is no need to purchase sterile cotton wool. It is important to remember that the bandage only prolongs the healing process of the suture, since the wound under it will constantly get wet, and this is very harmful. In any case, you will definitely need to consult with your doctor again, since you need to be one hundred percent sure that if you do not apply a bandage, the stitch itself will not come apart (the bandage prevents infection from entering the wound). It is important to remember that you need to process the seam two to four times a day. WITH special attention the seam should be processed after taking a shower. However, you are allowed to shower no earlier than seven days after the operation, but you will need to check this with your doctor.
It is very important to know what to treat after surgical suture, after taking a shower. While taking a shower, under no circumstances should you rub the seam itself with a washcloth, as such actions can seriously harm the scar that has not yet had time to heal and there is a risk of seriously damaging it. After all are completed hygiene procedures, you need to take a sterile bandage and blot the seam thoroughly to remove all accumulated moisture from it, since it is in a wet environment that the intensive development microbes Then you need to take hydrogen peroxide and pour this disinfectant solution directly onto the seam. You can also take a clean cotton pad, soak it generously in this solution, then treat the seam, and also wipe the skin next to the scar. Then you need to wait a while until the peroxide dries. After some time, as soon as the seam has dried, you will need to apply a small amount of brilliant green to the scar using a clean cotton pad or swab (you can also apply a solution of brilliant green using a simple cotton swab) .
It is important to remember that the treatment of postoperative sutures should be carried out in a sterile environment to prevent infection of the scar. At the end of this treatment procedure, you need to apply a sterile bandage to the seam, of course, if the doctor does not allow you to no longer apply a bandage. Treatment of the postoperative suture should be carried out until the scar has completely healed, in some cases this may take several months (it all depends on what kind of operation was performed, as well as on the size of the suture). There are cases when the scar is damaged only in one place, therefore, even two or three weeks after the operation, fluid or blood is released. In this case, the problem area must be treated until the scar is completely healed.
Approximately one or two weeks after surgery (depending on how complex the surgery was), the stitches will be removed. This will also be influenced by how quickly the healing process of the postoperative scar proceeds. After the doctor removes all the sutures, it will be necessary to treat the suture in the same way for several more days. If desired, instead of a bandage, you can stick a special patch on the seam, which can also be purchased at any pharmacy. Such a patch should only be applied to fresh seams, therefore, after removing the threads, when the tissue begins to scar, it can not be used, since it can create a greenhouse effect, and this will negatively affect the tissue healing process. Do not forget that even after the stitches are removed, you must regularly visit the doctor and undergo a complete medical checkup to convince not only that the scar is healing correctly, but also that the operation was successful and no complications appeared. Also, an experienced doctor can advise which ointments to use in order not only to speed up the healing process of the suture, but also to prevent the formation of a deep and unsightly suture.
Any surgery, even the most harmless one, entails traumatic damage to nearby tissues. The most important thing is to prevent the development of infection and speed up the regeneration process. The general resistance of the body and the skin itself in one way or another affect the complete healing of the wound. In this article we will talk about how sutures heal after surgery, and also consider the main factors affecting the healing of sutures.
How does the suture heal after surgery?
Healing of postoperative sutures consists of three main processes:
- Education connective tissue(collagen) fibroblasts. Fibroblast is a cell that is found in the middle layer of the skin. Thanks to collagen recovery processes are accelerated and tissue defect elimination is ensured.
- Formation of epithelium at the site of wound damage. This creates a barrier for the passage of microorganisms.
- Tissue contraction is the process of reducing wound surfaces and closing the wound.
Factors influencing the healing of sutures
According to medical standards, sutures usually take seven to twelve days to heal. But a big role is also played by the person’s age, his illness and the place where the sutures are placed. The process of removing stitches and healing wounds can take a long time if a person, for example, has diabetes. The healing of various medical sutures is influenced by many factors, namely:
- Age. Young people recover from surgery much faster than older people.
- Weight. In people who are overweight or underweight, the healing of wounds and stitches is slower.
- Diet. During the recovery period, the body needs “building” material: vitamins, minerals. They are necessary during the rehabilitation period.
- Dehydration of the body. It leads to improper functioning of the kidneys and heart, which, in turn, increases the time of the recovery process.
- Immunity. Failure in work immune system can lead to suppuration and slow healing of sutures. If pus accumulates on the wound, you should immediately consult a doctor.
- Chronic diseases. Diabetes, all diseases associated with the disorder endocrine system, tumors, vascular diseases may cause complications after surgery.
- Job circulatory system. Normal operation blood vessels speeds up the recovery process.
- Oxygen. Restricting oxygen to the wound by applying a bandage will slow down the healing process of the sutures. Access to oxygen, like the rest nutrients, simply necessary for rapid healing.
- The use of steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs during the first days after surgery slows down the recovery process.
All these factors significantly affect the healing of postoperative sutures. In addition, in order for the stitches to begin to heal faster, they need proper care.
How to properly care for seams
At first (1-5 days), a nurse or doctor takes care of the sutures: changes the bandage and treats the suture. Then, if there are no complications, the surgeon can remove dressing, having previously treated it with hydrogen peroxide.
At home, seams need to be treated daily. No special skills are required for this. Remember that applying a bandage increases the healing time of the stitches because the wound gets wet under the bandage. Before removing it, you should consult your doctor.
There is a huge amount different means and medications that accelerate wound recovery. Iodine and potassium permanganate are the main ones among them. They have proven their effectiveness for many years.
Contractubex ointment has good healing properties. It reduces wound healing time and prevents scarring. The ointment is rubbed into the skin until completely dry.
In addition to products for external use, there are also internal ones that need to be taken during the postoperative period: vitamins, anti-inflammatory drugs, enzymes.
Folk remedies for healing sutures
- Tea tree oil. Treat the seam twice a day.
- Cream with calendula extract. Lubricate the wound twice a day.
- Blackberry syrup with echinacea. Take one teaspoon three times daily before meals. Drink for two weeks.
How quickly the stitch heals after surgery depends only on you. But with the help of these recommendations you can speed up this process. I wish you good health and a speedy recovery!
Hello, Elena.
Any postoperative sutures, including after removal inguinal hernia, must be processed daily. If the hospital does this nurse, then you will have to take care of the processing yourself at home. But don’t worry, you will succeed, it’s not difficult at all, and you don’t need to have any special professional skills.
The most important thing during this period is to keep the wound clean. If the seam has come apart, then even a specialist will not be able to give any exact instructions in absentia, because you need to clearly see what is happening in the wound. You need to contact the surgeon who operated on you as soon as possible so that he can give recommendations on how to care for the wound, and perhaps eliminate the consequences. Here, depending on the type of wound, there are two options: either it is left open and it is recommended to clean it (the medicine is also prescribed by the doctor), or it is re-sutured, which is less common. For example, a wound is kept open during inflammation and suppuration. If any problems arise in the wound (hematoma, suppuration, etc.), the doctor places a drainage and may remove one or more skin sutures located in this area of the wound. Now this area will heal secondary intention, i.e. himself. Usually if postoperative period proceeds without complications, sutures are removed on days 7-9, depending on their location and individual characteristics body. If the wound is large, then first the stitches are removed after one, and the next day - the rest. If catgut sutures are applied, they do not need to be removed, since after a certain time they disappear on their own.
The wound is treated at home with a skin antiseptic: brilliant green, alcohol, iodoperone, iodinol, forisept-color, etc. The best disinfectant for the skin is fucorcin or Castellani liquid: it does not need to be washed. If necessary, the wound is washed with hydrogen peroxide, dried, then (if indicated) a bandage is applied. It is most often alcoholic, but dimexide diluted 1:3 with saline can also be used. solution or with 3 parts of water, and dioxidin 1%, and any other remedy that the doctor deems necessary.
If the wound is no longer open, then everything is still better and simpler. A good healing effect is provided by sea buckthorn ointment, levomekol ointment, and ointments containing panthenol. Also, at the healing stage, postoperative sutures can be lubricated with milk thistle oil: it heals wounds much more actively than sea buckthorn oil and promotes the resorption of rough scars. A seam treated with milk thistle oil will be neater and not as rough. At this stage, the main thing is time, patience and a positive attitude.
Only two or three months after the stitches are removed can you use ointments such as Contractubex and Mederma. At open wound They should not be used under any circumstances.
Be healthy!
Additionally
7–10 days after surgery. Usually during this time the patient remains in hospital, and the condition is monitored by a medical professional. Sometimes it happens that the patient can be sent home earlier, but at the same time he must be treated.
To care for postoperative uninfected patients, you will need various antiseptics: alcohol, iodine, potassium permanganate solution, etc. You can also use hydrogen peroxide, 10% sodium chloride solution or regular brilliant green. We should not forget about the necessary means at hand, such as an adhesive plaster, tweezers, sterile wipes and a bandage. It is important not only the seams, but also how to process them correctly. This largely depends on the nature and complexity of the operation itself. For example, when it comes to caring for sutures after eye surgery, the patient must perform daily careful external treatment under the supervision of a specialist, otherwise it can be fatal.
How to process seams
If the operation was successful, the patient is on home treatment and the seams are not infected, their treatment should begin with thorough rinsing with an antiseptic liquid. To do this, you need to take a small piece of napkin with tweezers and moisten it generously with peroxide or alcohol. Then use a blotting motion to work the seam and the area around it. The next step is to apply a sterile dressing, previously soaked in hypertonic solution and pressed out. You need to put another sterile napkin on top. At the end, the seam is bandaged and sealed with adhesive tape. If the wound does not fester, this procedure can be carried out every other day.Postoperative scar care
If the stitches were removed in the hospital, you will have to treat them at home postoperative scar. Caring for it is quite simple - daily lubrication with brilliant green for a week. If nothing is oozing from the scar and it is dry enough, there is no need to cover it with an adhesive plaster, since such wounds heal much faster in the air. It should be remembered that in case of systematic appearance of blood or fluid at the site of the scar, its independent treatment is not recommended. It is better to trust professional doctors, as this may indicate an infection in the wound. It is important to know that when processing seams you should not use cotton swabs. Their particles can linger on the seam and cause inflammatory process. Easy-to-use gauze pads are an excellent alternative.After completion of the surgical intervention, aseptic postoperative sutures are applied to prevent microorganisms from entering the tissue and to create a seal.
A suture is a surgical manipulation that is performed using a thread and a special needle to connect tissues of biological origin.
Exist different kinds sutures that are placed at the end or during operations.
Depending on the nature of the origin and size of the surgical field, there are:
- bloodless - made with a special adhesive plaster without the use of suture material.
- bloody - applied using special tools - suture threads, tweezers, needles and Hegar needle holder.
Bloody stitches are divided into:
- simple nodal - needle puncture - triangular, due to its shape it holds the material in place;
- intradermal continuous - the most reliable, since after its removal there is no cosmetic defect left;
- mattress - applied during abdominal operations and extensive damage to organ complexes;
- purse string – used in plastic surgery and during gastric resection;
- entwining - resembles circular movements, used for suturing blood vessels and perforated organs (stomach, Bladder, intestines).
Depending on the instrumentation used to apply sutures, there are:
- manual suture - applied using a needle, needle holder, tweezers and suture material;
- mechanical suture - which is applied with a special device resembling a stapler.
Depending on the type of tissue damage, the suture can be applied in one or several rows.
Seams are also divided into:
- submersible - placed inside abdominal cavity in organs and tissues;
- removable - overlapping skin, head tissue and other integumentary areas).
After surgical manipulation After the wound is sutured, a healing period begins. It depends on the location of the postoperative wound, its size, the patient’s condition, age, and restrictions on physical activity.
The healing period is influenced by its sterility and the materials used to process it after surgery.
Stages of suture healing after surgery
Healing of sutures after surgery is carried out in 3 stages.
At the first stage, the synthesis of connective tissue begins to increase from collagen fibers formed by fibroblasts.
At the second stage, epithelial cells change their localization, moving from the periphery to the center to the site of damage. These cells provide a barrier function, preventing microbes from entering the wound surface. The second stage ends by 4-6 days, if everything proceeds without complications.
At the third stage, complete closure of the wound defect occurs.
Important! Wounds should be treated only after cleaning the hands first with water and soap, then with alcohol. Tools must be disinfected before use.
How long does it take for stitches to heal after surgery?
The healing time of postoperative sutures ranges from 3 days to several weeks.
The duration of resorption of the suture material depends on the material of the thread with which the surgical suture was applied. If the thread is catgut, then the material resolves after 3-4 months after healing. If the seam is made of lavsan, then after 7-14 days. Vicryl seams disappear after 4-5 months.
How to treat seams at home?
Postoperative sutures are treated with special antiseptic preparations. Every day in a hospital or at home, until the stitches have been removed, use:
- solution of potassium permanganate ( correct dosage and the method of dilution must be explained by the doctor in order to prevent the development of swelling and burns);
- iodine solution (use in small quantities, as it can cause dry skin);
- brilliant green solution;
- hydrogen peroxide solution (can cause burning and foaming);
- anti-inflammatory agents of paste or gel consistency.
How to speed up the healing of a suture after surgery?
To quickly heal the postoperative suture, it is necessary to use wound healing ointments.
These include levomekol, ichthyol ointment, solcoseryl, bepanten and others.
Levomekol has antibacterial properties and causes accelerated regenerative ability cellular elements. The ointment is applied to a cotton swab or ball and the seam is treated. Duration of use is 5-7 days.
Use is contraindicated when dermatological diseases(psoriasis, various skin rashes), with intolerance to the main component – methyluracil.
Ichthyol ointment has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It must be applied in a thin layer to the damaged area. Apply a sterile bandage and bandage on top.
Solcoseryl is used to activate fibroblasts. It improves metabolic processes in connective tissue elements. Apply a thin layer to the disinfected wound surface.
Do not use if you are hypersensitive to para-aminobenzoic acid.
How to remove stitches?
At home, stitches after abdominal operations filming is prohibited. Sutures can be removed when suturing skin defects on the upper and lower extremities.
Rules and techniques for removing postoperative sutures
- It is necessary to prepare sterile instruments and disinfect your hands up to the elbow. Provide access to the seam.
- Using an antiseptic, treat the suture area with a cotton swab.
- Then, taking tweezers in your hand, slightly lift the first knot.
- Taking the scissors in your hand, cut the suture thread.
- Do this with all nodes.
- Make sure that all suture material is removed.
- Handle antiseptic solution place of the removed seam.
- Apply an aseptic bandage.
How to treat the suture site after its removal?
After removal, the surgical wound site can be treated with a solution of furacillin, brilliant green or hydrogen peroxide. The course of treatment is 4-7 days, until the wound surface completely disappears.
Sutures after surgery provide connection and fusion of tissues of various origins. It is necessary to properly treat the suture site in order to prevent the penetration of infectious agents. Provide fast healing Antiseptic healing ointments will help. After healing, the suture should only be removed when surgical department. It is not recommended to relieve shock yourself. This can lead to the development of inflammation, suppuration, swelling, etc.
Video: Inspection and processing of the seam
