Any operation can lead to an infection that can have both a minor and a major impact on your health.
This article will help you identify some of the common infections after breast reduction, so that you can easily identify them and consult a doctor before it becomes more severe.
Signs of Infection After Breast Reduction?
How to determine that the discomfort and problems that you are facing the consequences of infection rather than the healing process?
After the operation, the body becomes weak and therefore it should be carefully and carefully checked that the body is not exposed to bacteria and microbes that can cause infection.
These infections include pain, swelling, pus formation, discoloration and general malaise.
General postoperative infections
Post-operative care typically involves checking the patient’s reaction to the operation, as well as the occurrence of infections.
However, from time to time, the infection tends to occur regardless of how much preventive measures are taken. This usually occurs in the case of minor surgical procedures in which the patient is allowed to go home within a few hours after breast reduction.
It is in this case, that most people are unable to determine that they are undergoing “healing” or “infection.”
This is why it becomes extremely important for a person to identify the physical inconveniences that he or she experiences and talk with a doctor as soon as possible. Early detection and identification of infection can save you from many troubles later on. Just read the following points and find out about the most common infections after breast reduction.
Headaches and / or pain in the body
These are the most common symptoms of infection after breast reduction, although they can also be confused with the consequences of surgical intervention! It is normal to feel pain and discomfort during the period under treatment, however, if you experience severe muscle and headaches after surgery, you should discuss this with your doctor, as one of the reasons may be an infection.
Swelling and redness
Observing the swelling and redness at the site of the operation, which does not go on decline from day to day, but become more serious, may indicate the presence of infection.
Pus and bleeding
When on the site of a surgical suture for any reason, the formation of pus begins, it is most likely a very serious infection. You can see that there is a formation of a thick greenish-yellow semi-liquid. In some cases, you will also see pus with some shade of blood along with it. If you observe a similar phenomenon, you should visit your doctor as soon as possible to prevent further complications.
Fever
Again, fever is a common symptom after breast reduction, but if the temperature reaches 38 C, then you should consult a doctor. That is why it is very important to regularly measure body temperature with a thermometer. Fever can be accompanied by headaches, body aches, and malaise. However, a general malaise can also be present without fever.
A burning sensation at the site of surgical suture
Another evidence of infection after surgery is burning when you touch the incision. This indicates that the incision is infected and that the body is struggling with the infection.
Other possible infections after surgery
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Changing the color of stool and urine
- Vomiting with or without blood
- Problems in urination and / or defecation
- Loss of appetite or being unable to eat properly
- Problems with breathing.
Infections after surgery will differ depending on the type of operation that was performed. There are many ways to prevent infection after surgery. Nevertheless, by watching how your body reacts after the operation, you can prevent serious consequences.
Infection in the field of surgical intervention is any clinically recognizable infection that affects the organs and tissues of the human body, affected in the course of a surgical operation, and which arises precisely in connection with surgical intervention.
In the literature, the terms “surgical wound infection”, “postoperative infection”, “postoperative complication” are often encountered. These concepts are either too broad or too narrow: an organ / cavity infection developed after surgery (peritonitis or abscess) can hardly be called a “wound” infection.
Currently, in accordance with international standards for the registration and registration of infection in the field of surgical intervention are classified by the localization of the infectious process as superficial, deep and organ / cavity infections.
Superficial infection in the surgical area after breast reduction
The infection occurs no later than 30 days after the operation and involves only the skin and subcutaneous tissues in the incision region and the patient has at least one of the listed circumstances:
- Purulent discharge from the surface incision.
- Isolation of microorganisms from a liquid or tissue obtained aseptically from the surface incision.
- The surgeon intentionally opens the wound and there is at least one of the following signs or symptoms of infection in the incision area: pain or tenderness, limited swelling, redness, fever, except when sowing from the wound gives negative results.
- The diagnosis of superficial infection in the surgical intervention of the incision is made by a surgeon or other attending physician.
Deep infection in the field of surgical intervention
Infection occurs no later than 30 days after breast reduction in the absence of an implant or no later than one year with an implant in place of surgery and there is reason to believe that the infection is associated with this surgical operation and involves deep soft tissues (fascial and muscular layers) in the area incision and patient has at least one of the following circumstances:
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- Purulent discharge from the depth of the incision, but not from the organ / cavity at the site of this surgical intervention.
- Spontaneous divergence of the wound edges or intentional opening by the surgeon when the patient has at least one of the following signs or symptoms of infection: fever (> 37.5 C) or localized pain or tenderness, except when sowing from wounds gives negative results.
- During a direct examination, during a reoperation, a histopathological or radiographic examination revealed an abscess or other signs of infection in the deep incision.
- The diagnosis of a deep infection is made by a surgeon or other attending physician.
Infection in the area of organ / cavity surgerical intervention
Infection occurs no later than 30 days after breast reduction in the absence of an implant or no later than one year with an implant in place of surgery and there is reason to believe that the infection is associated with this surgical operation and the infection involves any part of the body, excluding the incision of the skin, fascia or muscle layers , Which were discovered or affected in the process of breast reduction and the patient has at least one of the listed circumstances:
- Purulent exudation from the drainage installed in the organ / cavity.
- Exudation of microorganisms from a fluid or tissue obtained aseptically from organ / space.
- During a direct examination, during a reoperation, a histopathological or radiographic examination revealed an abscess or other signs of an infection involving the organ / cavity.
- Diagnosis of the infection of the body / cavity is make by a surgeon or other attending physician (peritonitis, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, mediastinitis, endometritis, cystitis, urethritis, endocarditis, etc. that occur after surgery).