When can I take a shower after abdominal surgery. Is it possible to take a bath after appendicitis during the rehabilitation period

Often after discharge from the hospital, and in modern conditions it often occurs the day after surgery or surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, postoperative wound care is provided by the patients themselves or their relatives. In most situations, visiting a clinic or surgical room Not needed. Here is given summary recommendations that we give to the patient at discharge from the hospital.

Attention, in each case, recommendations for the treatment of wounds can only be given by the operating surgeon. Recommendations given to you personally may differ from those given here. If in any doubt, check with the surgeon who operated on you.

Management of wounds under the seams.

48 hours after the operation, you can remove the bandage applied by the surgeon and take a shower. The wound can be washed with running water without mechanical impact. Taking a bath or swimming in the pool without a special dressing (such as Tegaderm) is prohibited for the entire period of the sutures and up to 1 day after the removal of the sutures.

After taking a shower, the wound should be gently dried and treated with a 10% betadine solution using a cotton swab.

If you are allergic to iodine and its preparations, it is possible to treat the wound with alcohol, brilliant green or fucorcin. The last two dyes can stain clothes and household items, therefore they are recommended in last turn or on special occasions.

48 hours after surgery, most wounds can be managed without a bandage by treating them once a day or additionally after washing with an antiseptic (Betadine).

In situations specified by the doctor, as well as: if the sutures interfere (cling to clothing) or the wound is on a rubbing surface, it is possible to manage wounds under bandages. We recommend dressings such as Medipor or Tegaderm (for bathing) or their equivalents. Bandages can be changed either every day or every other day. When changing dressings, the wound is treated with an antiseptic (betadine). Based on our experience, there is no difference between wound management without dressings and with dressings on the outcome of treatment.

During this period, some patients may experience small bruises or hemorrhages around the wound, they usually do not require treatment and resolve on their own within 7-10 days.

If you have stitches that don't dissolve, they will need to be removed in the operating room on the date your surgeon has scheduled. Most sutures are removed after 5-7 days, but some wounds may require sutures for 10-15 days.

In the period up to 2 weeks after the removal of the sutures, the scar should be protected from mechanical stress (blows, stretching, etc.). It is not desirable for the scar area to be tanned for 2 months after surgery. Up to 6 months after surgery with insolation, it is recommended to treat the scar area with sunscreen with high rate SPF.

For improvement cosmetic effect it is possible to treat the scar with silicone-based preparations (such as Stratamed, Strataderm, Kelo-Kot) on the recommendation of your doctor.

The final formation of the scar occurs 6 months after the operation. Before this period, interventions to correct the scar are not recommended if you do not like its appearance (laser resurfacing or surgical correction).

You should contact the surgeon immediately at the following situations:

- redness of the wound, the appearance of edema or an increase in skin temperature in the wound area.

- increased pain in the wound area, especially with its twitching nature

- the appearance of purulent or fecal discharge from the wound.

When can the suture be wet after surgery? This question interests many patients. I must say that the types of operations are very different, and the types of dressings too. If the condition allows, then after about two days you can already take a shower. The most important thing is not to soak the seam. If a few drops got on it, then it's not scary. After washing, it is enough to dry the seam with a towel.

What to do if a bandage is applied

In this case, the patient should take a shower carefully, do not wet it. There are several types of dressings, some of them do not get wet, but if you are not sure about this, then you should be careful. Bandages should not be removed without the doctor's permission.

Hygiene is essential to ensure proper wound healing.

In order to avoid soaking the seam, do the following:

You need to cover the seam before washing. To do this, use bandages that are waterproof. To protect the seam, you can use a rubber bandage or a plastic bag.
In the first days after the operation, it is strictly forbidden to take a bath. You can only swim in the shower.
It is not necessary to rub the seams with a washcloth.
Even if the seam is not wet, then you need to blot it with a clean towel. This will prevent water from entering the wound.
In the event that the seams get wet, then blot them, and then process them.

How to care for postoperative sutures

Postoperative suture care is the same in most cases. For normal process healing, you need to regularly treat them with special skin antiseptics. It can be iodine, brilliant green, potassium permanganate of medium strength, hydrogen peroxide or furatsilin.
It is very important to follow the rules of hygiene and cleanliness.

All details should be obtained from the attending physician. If there are no other instructions, then you need to know that you can take a shower and swim only a day after the operation. Only after a day should you gently wash the wound warm water and soap.

After washing, the use of cosmetic lotions and creams is completely unacceptable. In some cases, the seams are closed sterile dressings. Then you have to regularly visit the clinic and do dressings. Or the doctor should give recommendations for bandaging at home.

There are several types of materials that are superimposed on the seams. In addition, there may be several ways to suture. Sometimes materials are used that dissolve over time. In other cases, they are removed in medical office. It is extremely important to remove the stitches on the day prescribed by the doctor, neither earlier nor later.

If not only stitches were applied, but also staples, then only a doctor can remove them. Often, special tapes are applied to the surface of the seam, which fall off on their own in about a week. Often, if necessary, the suture is drained, and the doctor should also instruct how to care for it in this case. It is impossible to independently remove the material that is used as drainage.

It is very important to control your condition. If the deterioration has begun or the body temperature has risen, there is pain in the wound, swelling, hyperemia of the sutures, bumps and swelling, then you should immediately consult a doctor. Very often, in order to speed up wound healing, ointments are prescribed that contain antibiotics, such as levasin or levomekol.

If observed inflammatory process in the wound, then you can apply a compress with Dimexide. In addition, it is worth undergoing antibiotic therapy.

How long does it take for a wound to heal

Depending on the type of operation, the wounds begin to heal in an average of 7-14 days. Scars lighten in about 4-5 months. Sometimes the use of ointments for accelerated healing scarring is meaningless. If the operation was serious, then you can take a shower only after 6 days.

Baths should not be taken until the wound heals. Since there is a risk of infection in the wound.

If the healing process proceeds normally, then the wound does not need special treatment. If the wound heals well, then after two weeks you can bathe in the bath. Impact warm water on the wound is undesirable, since this may be the cause of undesirable processes in the scar.

Sometimes ordinary, everyday activities become difficult to perform - especially for washing after surgery in the postoperative period. Depending on the specific type surgical intervention, ordinary showering or bathing can be difficult not only because of some limitation of mobility, but also because of the condition of the postoperative sutures. Since, in most cases, the stitches must be kept dry, washing (showering or bathing) should be done in strict accordance with the instructions of the doctors.

How many days can I wash after abdominal surgery?

On the advice of doctors, on the first day of returning home from the hospital, it is necessary to take a shower and wash your hair. For bathing, you need to use a special antibacterial soap. Postoperative scars or sutures do not need to be specially protected from pouring water, it is only necessary to dry the wounds after washing and lubricate them with 3% - we use a solution of hydrogen peroxide, or a solution of chlorhexidine. About whether it is necessary to close the postoperative scar during bathing, it is necessary to ask the attending physician before discharge.

Attention! If the suture or postoperative scar has not completely healed, it cannot be wetted - that is, even taking a shower is prohibited. In such cases, rubbing can be dispensed with, avoiding the seam area.

It would be advisable to make a warm foot bath - not for long, 5-10 minutes. This procedure not only softens and removes the keratinized layer of the epidermis, but also protects against colds. After such a foot bath, the soles must be lubricated with cream. The main thing is not to catch a cold when swimming! To do this, after taking a shower, thoroughly dry yourself with a towel, dry your hair with a hairdryer and dress warmly. You should not walk barefoot after washing - but it is better to wear socks on your feet.

hot water contributes to the deoxidization of scar tissues and their subsequent suppuration;
pathogenic microorganisms that are constantly in the water can get into the seam area;
hot water can cause bleeding from a postoperative wound;
surgical intervention, one way or another, weakens the human immune system, and taking a bath can provoke the development of colds.

Even in cases where the attending physician allows you to take a bath, you must adhere to certain rules and recommendations.

Proper bath technique

The bath after the operation must be taken as follows:

The bathtub must be thoroughly washed and disinfected.
Bathing water should not be hot, not higher than 40 ° C
Chamomile decoction or other special disinfectant must be added to the water.
Wash better with antibacterial or baby soap
The bathing period should be short, no more than 5-10 minutes

Proper shower technique

Shower Rules:

It is necessary to carefully and accurately follow the instructions of the attending physician received at discharge and hospital.
Depending on how the postoperative sutures were applied, the possibility of conducting water procedures depends. If a waterproof bandage was applied to the seams, or they were fastened with a special medical stapler or glue, then one day after the operation, it is considered acceptable to take a shower under a weak pressure of water. But, if the postoperative wound was sutured with surgical threads that require subsequent removal, then the shower must be replaced by wiping with a sponge, or it is necessary to carefully protect the wound before bathing.
Wash the area around the wound properly with soapy water, being careful not to wet the suture itself. Afterwards, thoroughly rinse the area with clean water.
The time of taking a shower should not exceed 5-10 minutes, the water should not be very hot.
After a shower, the wound area must be thoroughly dried by blotting with a clean towel or napkin and bandaged with those external treatments prescribed by the attending physician.

What is prohibited?

During the recovery period, it is prohibited:

Add to water aroma oils, salts and other additives.
Rub the wound and remove from it the stitches, staples or surgical plaster applied by the doctor.
To prevent bleeding, pick at the wound and remove the resulting scabs.
Treat and wash the wound with products not recommended by the doctor.

How many days can I bathe after laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy - modern method surgical intervention, the advantage of which is a fairly short postoperative period and a significantly faster recovery - in most cases, the patient goes home the very next day after the operation. However, laparoscopy serious procedure conducted with general anesthesia and, of course, requiring compliance with certain rules in the postoperative period. After the laparoscopy, the patient is allowed to take a shower almost immediately after returning from the hospital, and a bath - no earlier than a few weeks after the operation. Taking a bath, visiting a bath, sauna and swimming pool is allowed 2-3 months after surgery, only if the surgical incisions are completely healed.

Safety

Most frequent complication in the postoperative period becomes inflammation of the wound. Signs of such a pathology are fever, nausea, vomiting, pain and redness in the suture area, as well as swelling of the tissues around the scar. Sometimes yellow-green purulent fluids and even blood. Unfortunately, more than 80% of cases of high mortality of patients in the postoperative period are due to infectious complications associated with wound inflammation.

In order to avoid similar pathologies during the period, several safety rules must be observed:

Necessary timely treatment concomitant diseases. Risk factors for the development of complications in the postoperative period are the presence of diabetes, smoking and alcohol abuse, and poor nutrition and taking certain medications.
Observe ground rules personal hygiene: wash hands, change clothes, use a personal towel and hygiene products.
If you have any signs or symptoms of complications (fever, the appearance of suppuration of the wound or bleeding, as well as pain and nausea), you should immediately seek medical help.

Instructions on the possibility of bathing and showering, as well as the washing technique, should be provided to the patient at the time of discharge from the hospital. In case of loss of this information, as well as to prevent the development of possible complications, the patient in the postoperative period should contact the attending physician and receive a second consultation.

Laparoscopic surgery is described as a low-traumatic surgical procedure. After laparoscopy, a long permanent bed rest, patients return to habitual way life in a few days. But this is an operation, so safety measures must be observed. There is a question of personal hygiene. How to rehabilitate after surgery and when can I wash after laparoscopy?

Features of laparoscopy

Laparoscopy can be elective or emergency.

Laparoscopy is performed under general anesthesia. It is performed using specialized laparoscopic instruments. In the abdomen, the doctor makes two or three punctures. To create space, through the holes is introduced carbon dioxide. After that, a laparoscope with a camera is inserted, which transmits a picture of the internal organs to the monitor. Next, various instruments for surgical manipulations are introduced.

At the end of laparoscopy, 2-3 small sutures remain on the anterior wall of the abdomen. There are also stitches on the operated internal organ. Therefore, for full recovery body after the operation, it is necessary to pay due attention to the recovery period.

Application in medicine

This method is very common in gynecology. It is both diagnostic and therapeutic. With the help of laparoscopy in gynecology, it is possible to diagnose:

are there adhesions in the fallopian tubes;
the degree of patency of the pipes;
ectopic pregnancy;
endometriosis and its stage of progression;
an accurate picture of neoplasms, such as the size of a cyst or fibroid.

In addition to gynecology, laparoscopy is also used in operations on organs. abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space. That is, it is actively used by both surgeons and urologists.

By using this method a better view is possible than with abdominal section. In addition, with the help of a laparoscope, you can make an optical increase in the operated organ, as well as see the retroperitoneal space.

Rehabilitation

After the operation, patients remain in the hospital, bed rest is provided. It lasts up to 10 hours after gynecological manipulations, from one day to three days after excision internal organ. Already 6–7 hours after gynecological operations, it is allowed to get up, move slowly, which prevents the formation of adhesions. The statement is determined by the type of operation performed. If this gynecological operation, then it is carried out in a few days. With manipulations on the abdominal organs - usually after three to four days. If they are found possible complications, the discharge is delayed until they are prevented. Pain after the operation, as a rule, they disappear on the third day, if this does not happen, you should immediately consult a doctor.

How many days does rehabilitation take? Recovery period usually lasts about a month.

The most important thing at this time correct handling seams, nutrition.

The diet is approved by the doctor, depending on the type of manipulation performed. Seams after laparoscopy are treated with a specialized solution. As a rule, such solutions include 3% hydrogen peroxide or fucorcin. Processing should take place in compliance with all aseptic and antiseptic measures, only with sterile bandages.

Personal hygiene

At first, about two weeks after the operation, you can only swim under warm shower covering the wound with a bandage. Do not rub or scrub the incision site. After taking a shower, the seams must be processed. You can take a bath no earlier than after 3-4 weeks.

Baths and saunas should be avoided after laparoscopy

Can I go to the bath or sauna after the operation? Only after 3 months, after consultation and permission of the doctor. This is because high temperatures promote internal bleeding. For the same reason, it is not recommended to sunbathe in the sun, visit a solarium.

The sutures are removed in the clinic in compliance with all asepsis rules, in the dressing room. In many patients, this occurs 6-9 days after the manipulation.

At first, red or purple spots, but over time they gradually turn pale, and soon become completely invisible.

Whether a scar remains after the operation or not depends on the care of it. In addition to careful processing, after removing the sutures, gauze lubricated with a special gel for tissue regeneration can be applied to the scar. The gauze should be changed as needed, or if the patient has washed and wetted it. After the wounds heal, you can switch to ointments to soften the scar tissue.

The period of recovery and rehabilitation after suffering caesarean section requires a special approach. Significant restrictions are imposed on the regimes physical activity women, for sex life, for planning next pregnancy. special attention requires nutrition and care for the seams. There are also limitations regarding hygiene procedures, in particular, water. In this article, we will tell you how and when a woman can take a bath, swim in the sea or river.

hygiene issues

Most postpartum women after caesarean at discharge from the maternity hospital are so happy with the consciousness of a quick return to their family that they simply forget to ask the attending physician about the organization of hygiene after surgical delivery. These questions are usually full height stand in front of her later, after discharge.

Hygiene is very important task in postpartum period. Properly organized hygiene measures will help to avoid infection of postoperative wounds, will contribute to more quick recovery body after severe stress which, of course, is a caesarean section.

But wrong approach to hygiene is fraught with the development of complications in the puerperal, and therefore the issue of water procedures, as an invariable component of hygiene modern woman, is quite sharp.

Care postoperative suture before and for some time after the removal of the suture material, it implies its treatment with brilliant green from possible bacterial infection, as well as moderate drying with hydrogen peroxide and regular dressing changes.

Complete tightening of the external scar on the skin is usually completed 3 weeks after the operation. If the early postoperative period proceeded with complications, then in this case, longer healing of the suture is quite possible, complications in the form of overgrowth connective tissue, formation of hernias, fistulas, keloid scar, divergence of part of the seams. In this case, the zone contact prohibition postoperative scar with water is extended individually.

If there are no complications, the suture heals well, the first three weeks after the operation, the woman should not take a bath, bathe in the shower. top bodies should be wiped with water, the external genitalia should be gently washed away, trying not to get water into the vagina and the seam area.

Douching is also contraindicated during this period. The process of healing internal sutures on uterus goes even longer than the process of scarring from the outside, and therefore it is necessary to exclude any possibility of tap water and bacteria or viruses entering the genital tract with it.

A woman should wash the external genital organs two to three times a day, change sanitary pads every 3 hours. It is important that in the process of separating postpartum discharge(lochiy) keep clean and hygienic.

When can you take a shower?

It is recommended to bathe in the shower after a caesarean section not earlier than the healing of the external seam occurs. As experts say, with uncomplicated rehabilitation period it takes about three weeks. Taking a shower immediately after removing the stitches is not the best solution. After suture material, which tightens the edges of the wound, will be removed, it takes about two more weeks for the external scar to be considered formed.

Therefore, it is recommended to take a shower not earlier than 5-6 weeks after the operation. The water should be warm (not hot or cold) cold and hot shower, useful for improving muscle tone and restoring physical fitness after childbirth, it is advisable to practice no earlier than 3-4 months after surgery.

When taking a shower, a woman should avoid directing a jet of tap water to the external genital organs, to the area of the postoperative scar. It is considered optimal at first to cover the seam on the skin with a surgical bandage and fix it on top with a special waterproof plaster. After bathing, the bandage is removed.

You should not use a hard washcloth, especially rub it on your stomach and groin.

It must be remembered that tap water is by no means as pure as it seems. It is inhabited by masses of microorganisms, not all of which are harmless. And given that the woman's immunity is badly undermined after the operation, the consequences of improper organization of water procedures can be quite sad.

Bathing in the bath

It is recommended to take a bath after a cesarean section not earlier than two mandatory conditions: will heal outer seam and postpartum discharge (lochia) will end. These discharges are quite natural and normal - this is how the uterus is cleansed of the blood that entered the cavity during the separation of the placenta. The process of involution of the uterus is also accompanied by secretions - its reverse development, reduction to the previous physiological size.

The first days after the operation, the discharge is bloody, bright, then they appear blood clots, after 5-6 days, serous fluid is present in the lochia, and after 2 weeks - yellowish mucus. When the discharge becomes normal, characteristic of a woman before pregnancy, this is a conditional signal that the uterine cavity is clean.

This usually happens 6-8 weeks after surgery. But there may be a later cessation of postpartum discharge. At the end of the selection, they also talk about primary healing internal scar on the uterus. From now on it is allowed sex life With barrier contraception(condoms), and it is also possible, at the request of the woman, to take baths.

It is important at first not to lie in the bath for hours, but to limit yourself to a 7-10-minute procedure. Should be avoided hot water so as not to provoke blood flow to the pelvic organs and not cause bleeding.

Bath, sauna

Baths and saunas are very useful inventions of mankind that improve health and improve blood circulation. But after the operation, they are unacceptable precisely for the reason high temperatures. A woman should not overheat, as this can cause increased postpartum discharge, bleeding. Bathing is strictly prohibited.

A woman who has recently given birth by caesarean section can go to the bathhouse and sauna without harm to health only when inseam on the uterus will get stronger enough. Usually these procedures are allowed simultaneously with the removal of the ban on abdominal exercises. Six months after the operation, visiting a bath, sauna will be safe and will bring a lot of benefits to a woman for beauty and health.

Swimming pool visit

Swimming and water aerobics are considered among the earliest permitted physical activities after a caesarean section. But it must be remembered that in public swimming pool where a woman comes, there are even more bacteria and a microorganism than in tap water. In addition, the water in the public pool is heavily chlorinated, which is an additional irritant.

A visit to the pool will be safe and useful only after operational delivery 3 months pass. An important factor is the absence of complications postoperative period. Therefore, before starting to visit the pool, you should always consult with your doctor.

Open waters

You want to swim in the lake, river and sea, especially if it is a hot summer outside. But it should be understood that the likelihood of infection after surgery when swimming in open water is higher than in a public pool. Any open body of water habitat habitation of numerous microorganisms. At the same time, stagnant water bodies (ponds, lakes) are more dangerous than the sea, in the salty environment of which not all microbes and viruses survive.

Rest on the sea, on freshwater and smaller water bodies should be postponed to a later time.

In the first 3-4 months after the operation, such rest, as well as being on the beach in the open sun, if a caesarean section was performed, are contraindicated.

General rules

Water procedures after a cesarean section will require a woman to follow certain rules.

Do not use strong perfumed soaps as they dry out the skin, especially in intimate places. Choose either regular baby soap, or special means for intimate hygiene. Pay attention to the composition. It is desirable that the composition contains lactic acid.

When washing, first of all, you should wash the external genital organs with movements from the pubis to anus. Then proceed to washing the anus. This procedure is important so that conditionally pathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms from intestines and faeces.
Sponges, washcloths and other bathing devices should not be used when water procedures genitals.

Until the stitches on the abdomen are removed, it is advisable to wash yourself after each urination. Not to upset the balance vaginal microflora, you should not use toilet soap every time, it is enough to wash yourself with soap only twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. Other washings are best done without detergents generally.
After the ban on the bath, the bath will be lifted, you should not rush to use abrasive products for the abdomen - peeling can be applied, but a little later. It is also better to refrain from Charcot's shower.
If you have a beach vacation, and only 2-3 months have passed after a cesarean section, you should definitely visit a doctor, take tests and ask him about the opportunity to swim and relax in a pond. If there are no complications, the obstetrician-gynecologist can allow.

For more information on how to care for a suture after a caesarean section, see the following video.