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Complications from surgery-help!
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Complications from surgery-help!

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Complications from surgery-help!

  • Post
    • July 11, 2011 at 7:47 pm
    killmel
    Participant

      Hi,

      I am a newbie & need you advice.

      I had sugery to remove a 2cm tumor from my upper thigh 4 weeks ago. The doctors needed to go down into the facia of the muscle to get clear margins.

      He did NOT put in a drain. I got  a very large seroma (fluid build up) on my incision that is not going down. The fluid is  around & on  my incision & it is very sore & sensitive.

      On top of everything else, last week the seroma got infected so the doctor used a needle to drain the seroma to do a lab culture & put me on atibiotics.

      Hi,

      I am a newbie & need you advice.

      I had sugery to remove a 2cm tumor from my upper thigh 4 weeks ago. The doctors needed to go down into the facia of the muscle to get clear margins.

      He did NOT put in a drain. I got  a very large seroma (fluid build up) on my incision that is not going down. The fluid is  around & on  my incision & it is very sore & sensitive.

      On top of everything else, last week the seroma got infected so the doctor used a needle to drain the seroma to do a lab culture & put me on atibiotics.

      I finally got some relief when he took out fluid for the lab culture but within hours the fluid came back. When I sleep at night with my leg elevated, the next morning the fluid has NOT gone done.

      I have a appt with the doctor tomorrow so I would appreciate any experience/advice with seromas you might have. Is it too last to put in a drain? The doctor told me that draining the fluid out with a needle, puts me a risk for infection again.

      Thank you for taking time to read my post & replying.

      mary

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • July 11, 2011 at 8:05 pm
        ValinMtl
        Participant

          Hi Mary

          Is there any possibility of a vacuum-assisted closure (sponge vac) being placed at the wound.  I had one when my doctor took out my drain tubes way too soon…took time but certainly worked.  All the best, Val xx

          http://instructor.mstc.edu/instructor/csebasti/543102_NursingSkills/Skills/WoundCare/StudyGuide1_WoundVacuumAssistedClosure.pdf

            • July 11, 2011 at 8:28 pm
            killmel
            Participant

              Hi Val,

               

              Thanks for responding.

              If I understand the wound vac the incision needs to be open.Does the incision have to be open??

              My incision is completely closed.

              Also, good luck with your NIH trial. Do your subqs have to be a certain size before you can get into this trial? How many do you have & what sizes?

              Thanks,

              Mary

              • July 11, 2011 at 9:35 pm
              ValinMtl
              Participant

                Sorry thought your incision was still open.  I responded to your questions below in my string about NIH.  Good luck, Mary in finding a solution to your problem.  Val

                • July 11, 2011 at 9:35 pm
                ValinMtl
                Participant

                  Sorry thought your incision was still open.  I responded to your questions below in my string about NIH.  Good luck, Mary in finding a solution to your problem.  Val

                  • July 11, 2011 at 8:28 pm
                  killmel
                  Participant

                    Hi Val,

                     

                    Thanks for responding.

                    If I understand the wound vac the incision needs to be open.Does the incision have to be open??

                    My incision is completely closed.

                    Also, good luck with your NIH trial. Do your subqs have to be a certain size before you can get into this trial? How many do you have & what sizes?

                    Thanks,

                    Mary

                  • July 11, 2011 at 8:05 pm
                  ValinMtl
                  Participant

                    Hi Mary

                    Is there any possibility of a vacuum-assisted closure (sponge vac) being placed at the wound.  I had one when my doctor took out my drain tubes way too soon…took time but certainly worked.  All the best, Val xx

                    http://instructor.mstc.edu/instructor/csebasti/543102_NursingSkills/Skills/WoundCare/StudyGuide1_WoundVacuumAssistedClosure.pdf

                    • July 11, 2011 at 9:41 pm
                    Carver
                    Participant

                      My situation was different because I had a groin LND and did have drains for a long time but even after the drains as well as injections with stuff to help dry me out, I had a seroma form in the pelvic area that was quite large. My doctor kept an eye on it but said to give it time to dissolve. It took many months. At one point it was almost as big as an orange then lemon and then finally went away although I was left with a hardened area with a lot of scar tissue. This was six years ago but that was my experience.  I hope yours will go away soon. Take care, Carver

                        • July 11, 2011 at 9:46 pm
                        killmel
                        Participant

                          Thanks Carver. Do you know what the doctor put in the seroma todry it out?

                          Mary

                          • July 11, 2011 at 9:46 pm
                          killmel
                          Participant

                            Thanks Carver. Do you know what the doctor put in the seroma todry it out?

                            Mary

                          • July 11, 2011 at 9:41 pm
                          Carver
                          Participant

                            My situation was different because I had a groin LND and did have drains for a long time but even after the drains as well as injections with stuff to help dry me out, I had a seroma form in the pelvic area that was quite large. My doctor kept an eye on it but said to give it time to dissolve. It took many months. At one point it was almost as big as an orange then lemon and then finally went away although I was left with a hardened area with a lot of scar tissue. This was six years ago but that was my experience.  I hope yours will go away soon. Take care, Carver

                            • July 12, 2011 at 6:25 pm
                            washoegal
                            Participant

                              When I had mine, on my arm , I was told to put heat on it and to gently message it.  Do not use very hot heat and be very gentle.  The skin is easily torn. 

                               

                              Now the caveat:  That didn't work for me.  Mine eventually burst.  Well, that at least took care of the problem.  Wound care was the next problem.  But I didn't get an infection!

                               

                              Good Luck,

                              Mary

                              Stage 3

                              • July 12, 2011 at 6:25 pm
                              washoegal
                              Participant

                                When I had mine, on my arm , I was told to put heat on it and to gently message it.  Do not use very hot heat and be very gentle.  The skin is easily torn. 

                                 

                                Now the caveat:  That didn't work for me.  Mine eventually burst.  Well, that at least took care of the problem.  Wound care was the next problem.  But I didn't get an infection!

                                 

                                Good Luck,

                                Mary

                                Stage 3

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