After the operation, children can go home once they are drinking normally, are comfortable on pain medication by mouth, and do not have a fever. Children with a ruptured appendix must remain in the hospital longer until all signs of infection are gone and may require continued antibiotic treatment at home.
- Intravenous Antibiotics at Home
- 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?
Intravenous Antibiotics at Home
If your child requires long term antibiotics, it may be possible to continue treatment while your child is at home. Before leaving the hospital you will be taught to care for the IV catheter and to give your child the antibiotics. A medical supply company will deliver the antibiotics and equipment to your home. A nurse will visit your home frequently to check on your child and answer any questions that you have about caring for the IV catheter and giving antibiotics at home.
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. If your child is still uncomfortable, call our office and we may prescribe something stronger.
Care for Dressings
If your child had an appendectomy there will be pieces of white tape called Steri-strips® over the incision. 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 is normal and 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. If your child's wound is left open by the surgeon because of an infection, it must be dressed in a special way. You will be instructed on how to care for the wound before leaving the hospital.
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 cut. This is called a healing ridge and 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
Your child may bathe, shower or swim in a pool as soon as two days after the appendectomy or once he or she is feeling better. Children who have an open wound can also bathe once they are discharged home. Bathing may be done without restriction.
Activity Restrictions
There are no specific activity restrictions following surgery. Your child can return to school as soon as he or she feels well enough. If you need a letter sent to your child's school regarding the operation and recovery, please contact our office.
Do I see the surgeon again after the operation?
If your child had appendicitis without rupture and all is going well, a visit to our office is not required. Our nurse practitioner will call you to check on your child's recovery. If your child had a ruptured appendix, or is scheduled for an interval appendectomy, we recommend a visit at two weeks, or sooner if you are worried about 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