Most infants are discharged from the hospital one to two days after the operation. A few hours after the operation feedings will be started. Infants may not drink as much as usual but this is temporary and will improve over a few days. Vomiting after the operation is common. It can last several days.
- Pain Management
- Care for Dressings
- Healing Ridge
- Bathing Restrictions
- Activity Restrictions
- Do I see the surgeon again after the operation?
- When do I call the surgeon's office?
Pain Management
Prescription pain medication is not routinely required after hospital discharge. Most children are comfortable using Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or Ibuprophen (Motrin®) once they are at home. Follow the dosage directions on the label.
Care for Dressings
There will be pieces of white tape called Steri-strips® over the incision(s). On the Steri-strips®, there may be a small amount of blood. This is normal. There may or may not be a gauze and clear plastic dressing over the Steri-strips®. The gauze, if present, can be removed two days after surgery. Your child can bathe after the gauze is off, with the Steri-strips® in place. These strips falloff on their own or can be removed one week after the operation. The skin surrounding the incision(s) may be red and bruised, and the incision may be slightly swollen. This can last many days. There will be no visible stitches to remove because they are under the skin. The stitches will dissolve after several weeks.
In most operations, the wound is closed with dissolvable suture(stitches). These stitches are under the skin and do not have to be removed. In some children these stitches may come through the incision about 4 weeks postoperatively. This may be associated with a little local redness and pus and it may involve an end of the incision or a larger portion. This is normal and is best treated by gently cleansing the area with soap and water and waiting. When the suture falls out or completely dissolves, the wound will heal. If your child has worsening redness, swelling pain of the incision and a fever within 2weeks of the operation, please call our office.
Healing Ridge
After the incisions are healed you will be able to feel a firm ridge just underneath the incision. This is called a healing ridge. It is normal to find this under an incision after an operation. The healing ridge usually lasts for several months before it softens and disappears.
Bathing Restrictions
You may bathe your baby as soon as two days after the operation. Bathing may be done without restriction.
Activity Restrictions
There are no specific activity restrictions following surgery.
Do I see the surgeon again after the operation?
If your child is doing well at home a check up with our surgeon is optional. Our pediatric nurse practitioner will call you to check on your child's recovery.
When do I call the surgeon's office?
Call our office at 415-476-2538 for the following:
- Any concerns you have about your child's recovery
- A temperature of 101°F or higher
- A red incision
- Increasing pain and tenderness at the incision
- Any liquid coming out of the incision
- persistant vomiting
- lack of weight gain