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.
Step 1. Wash your hands and set up
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Use liquid soap. Lather and scrub vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Scrub between your fingers and under your nails.
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Rinse with clean, running water, keeping fingers pointing down. Use a clean paper towel to dry your hands and turn off the faucet.
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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.
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Put all your supplies on a clean cloth or paper towel. Open a plastic trash bag.
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Peel back the edges of the dressing packages. Pour any irrigation solutions into solution cups.
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Clean the scissors with soap and water. Cut each piece of tape 4 inches longer than the dressing.
Step 2. Remove the old dressing
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Put on new disposable medical gloves.
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Loosen the tape by pulling gently toward the incision. Remove the dressing one layer at a time. Put it right into the plastic bag.
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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
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Clean the incision and apply a new dressing as directed.
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Put all used supplies in the plastic bag.
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Remove your gloves last and put them in the bag.
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Seal the bag and put it in the trash.
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Be sure to wash your hands again.
When to call your healthcare provider
Call your healthcare provider if any of these happen:
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Your incision suddenly opens
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You have bleeding from the incision, or an increase in its size
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Increased redness, swelling, or drainage
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Pain in or around the incision
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Change in the color of the incision
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Fever of 100.4°F ( 38°C ) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider
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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
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