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    Incision Care: Abdomen

    Dressing your incision helps keep it clean, dry, and infection-free. That way, it will heal faster. Follow the steps below, whether dressing the incision yourself or with the help of a family member or other caregiver.

    Wound care supplies.

    Step 1. Wash your hands and set up

    • Use liquid soap. Lather and scrub vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Scrub between your fingers and under your nails.

    • Rinse with clean, running water, keeping fingers pointing down. Use a clean paper towel to dry your hands and turn off the faucet.

    • It's also acceptable to clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

    • Put all your supplies on a clean cloth or paper towel. Open a plastic trash bag.

    • Peel back the edges of the dressing packages. Pour any irrigation solutions into solution cups.

    • Clean the scissors with soap and water. Cut each piece of tape 4 inches longer than the dressing.

    Step 2. Remove the old dressing

    • Put on new disposable medical gloves.

    • Loosen the tape by pulling gently toward the incision. Remove the dressing one layer at a time. Put it right into the plastic bag.

    • Remove your gloves and put them in the plastic bag. Wash your hands again, as described above. Then put on new gloves.

    Step 3. Clean and dress the incision

    • Clean the incision and apply a new dressing as directed.

    • Put all used supplies in the plastic bag.

    • Remove your gloves last and put them in the bag.

    • Seal the bag and put it in the trash.

    • Be sure to wash your hands again.

    When to call your healthcare provider

    Call your healthcare provider if any of these happen:

    • Your incision suddenly opens

    • You have bleeding from the incision, or an increase in its size

    • Increased redness, swelling, or drainage

    • Pain in or around the incision

    • Change in the color of the incision

    • Fever of  100.4°F  ( 38°C ) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

    • Chills

    Online Medical Reviewer: Jonas DeMuro MD
    Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Turley Jr PA-C
    Online Medical Reviewer: Tara Novick BSN MSN
    Date Last Reviewed: 3/1/2022
    © 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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    Southern New Mexico
    Surgery Center

    2301 Indian Wells Rd. Suite B
    Alamogordo, NM 88310
    www.snmsc.org

    Phone: 575.437.0890
    Fax: 575.437.0905
    Email: info@snmsc.org

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