Health Library

Discharge Instructions: Changing Your Dressing

You are going home with sutures (stitches) or surgical staples in place. Or you may have special strips of tape called Steri-Strips. One of these items was used to close your incision, help stop bleeding, and speed healing. Follow the tips on this sheet to help your incision heal.

Home Care

• Clean your work area:

  • Put pets in another room.

  • Clean your work area with soap and water.

  • Spread a clean cloth or paper towel over the surface.

  • Move away from the clean surface if you need to cough or sneeze.

• Gather your supplies:

  • Packaged dressing for your wound

  • Irrigation solutions (if using these)

  • Pair of scissors (cleaned with soap and water)

  • Medical tape

  • Disposable gloves (2 pairs)

  • Clean plastic trash bag (open it before you wash your hands)

• Wash your hands:

  • Use liquid soap.

  • Work up a good lather and scrub for 1 to 2 minutes.

  • Be sure to scrub between your fingers and under your nails.

  • Rinse with warm water, keeping your fingers pointed down.

  • Use a clean paper towel to dry your hands and turn off the faucet.

• Prepare your dressing supplies:

  • Peel back the edges of the dressing packages. Pour any irrigation solutions into solution cups.

  • Cut each piece of tape 4 inches longer than the dressing.

• Remove the old dressing:

  • Put on disposable gloves.

  • Loosen the tape on the dressing by pulling gently toward the incision. Remove the dressing one layer at a time. Put it in the plastic bag immediately.

  • Remove your gloves and put them in the plastic bag. Wash your hands.

  • Put on a new pair of gloves.

• Clean and dress the incision:

  • Irrigate and clean the incision and apply a new dressing as directed.

  • Put all used supplies in the plastic bag. Remove your gloves last and put them in the plastic bag. Seal the bag and put it in the trash.

  • Be sure to wash your hands again.

Follow-Up

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.

When to Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following:

• Increased pain, bleeding, redness, or foul-smelling discharge around the incision area

• Fever above 100.4°F (38°C)

• Shaking chills

• Vomiting or nausea that doesn’t go away

• Numbness, coldness, or tingling around the incision area