Wound Care after Paediatric Heart Surgery

A new-born suffering from congenital heart disease is one of the most difficult situations for any parent to endure. The exercise of undergoing an open heart surgery is vital for the baby’s future and requires sensitive handling by parents. Paediatric heart surgery requires post-operative care that is critical to the child’s wellbeing.  These procedures are performed to cure a complex health problem and to prevent complicated health conditions in future. Some conditions require immediate surgery after birth and others necessitate interventions after a few months or years from birth.

In most babies, neonatal heart surgery is done to correct a hole in the heart, either in the valves or heart wall. Usually in an open heart surgery for children with congenital heart disease, an incision is done and the breastbone will be divided and sewn together by wires. The wound that arises as a result of the surgery is naturally susceptible to infection.

Post -operative care involves protecting  the wound from infections and ensuring a smooth healing process for the baby. A little extra attention to wound care should be given to prevent infections, here are a few tips for proper wound care

Bathing

• The child can take bath after a week
• Wash the incision wound area daily with mild soap and water. Pat it dry.
• Keep the incision clean and dry.

Skin care

• Apply beta dine ointment over the incision area everyday after bathing, for a week

Contact us (9786834441) if the child has any of the following symptoms

1. Pain, redness and swelling of the wound.
2. Secretion of Pus in the wound
3. Continuous Fever.