Even in the hands of the best surgeons, infection is a potential post-surgery complication, and it’s important to understand what they look like so you can take fast action.
Fellowship-trained, board-certified surgeon Dr. Elvira Klause, MD, FACS, is a renowned laparoscopic and robotic surgery specialist serving patients in and around Laguna Hills, California.
Dr. Klause recognizes infection risk and takes every possible step to protect her patients.
It all starts with education. This month, our blog explains exactly what a post-surgical infection is and how you can identify the warning signs.
A post-surgical infection develops when harmful bacteria enter the body either during or after a procedure. More than half of post-surgical infections affect only the skin and its underlying fatty layer, but it’s also possible to develop infections deeper within the body.
Post-surgical infections are relatively rare today due to modern techniques, such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery. These techniques require very small incisions (as small as a dime), which significantly lessens the risk of infection.
When surgery is performed by an elite specialist like Dr. Klause, you have the additional benefit of years of expertise in advanced techniques. Dr. Klause expertly plans surgery to reduce infection risk and also prescribes appropriate antibiotics to help control risk.
Understanding what infections are and how they develop helps patients recognize early warning signs while maintaining realistic expectations about recovery.
After surgery, it’s important to know that it’s normal to have some changes as your skin and body heal.
Mild pinkness or a pale purplish color at the incision site is common. This is normal inflammation that happens with any type of surgical incision.
It’s also normal to experience some minor swelling for the first few days. This is also part of the inflammatory response as your body starts healing. Both the redness and swelling usually start fading within a few days and improve steadily as you heal.
Depending on the surgery and the wound, you might experience some mild drainage. This is common and normal after certain procedures, such as hernia repair. Drainage might be watery, clear, or pinkish due to blood.
Soreness and tenderness are typical following surgery. Though it can vary by surgery, incision size, and situation, most people experience the most intense discomfort in the first several days. The pain usually lessens steadily after that.
As many as 90% of people experience a mild temperature following surgery. This usually lasts only about two days and resolves naturally with proper post-op care and following your recovery instructions.
While these changes are common and usually not a cause for alarm, these same symptoms can represent an infection setting in when they’re more intense. The key is knowing the subtle differences to watch for.
If infections develop after surgery, they usually happen within the first week. However, it can take up to several weeks for the signs of infection to present.
Some signs you might have an infection after surgery are:
Other signs of an infection can be specific to the surgery. For example, after a hernia repair, some patients with infections may experience a return of bulging. Or, with gallbladder surgery, increased nausea and vomiting could point to an infection.
If you recognize any of these potential signs of infection after surgery, it’s important to act fast. Reach out to Dr. Klause at 949-245-6910 to schedule your appointment or text us at 570-989-4928. Telehealth visits are available.
