Tip for abscess/fistula care

[pipmom]

My 15 yr old has a Seton and additional wound they layed open to heal inside out. I have been packing wound with Aquacel which is impregnated with an antibiotic. Also contains a silver base so not rec. for patients with metal allergy. This has worked wonderfully and healing has been exceptionally fast.Why don't doctors recommend this for patients prone to develop fissures/fistulas as preventive measure especially after taking out Setons or beginning feeling of new fissure/fistula? It comes in 1/4 in wide tape that I just snip off and place inside buttock. Melts quickly. We do this after BM's when she has used her peri bottle and is clean.Another product is Alginate which again helps with healing. Also used a skin barrier Z guard when she gets excoriation from overgrowth of yeast from many antibiotics. This is much better also. Just things that have worked for us.

 

[AlliRuns]

I haven't heard of this Aquacel stuff. My doc just told me to have lots of sitz baths and try to control the diarrhea after the setons came out (yeah right!) obviously it didn't work.

 

[Sybil Vane]

Hi Pipmom! Thanks for the tips! Did your doctor tell you about Aquacel? Or did you find it after doing research?

 

[pipmom]

Actually a wound care nurse recommended it. The surgeon recommended the Alginate which was fine but seemed more excoriating. Just think if patients think they are getting symptomatic in anal area that a topical product may help along with oral antibiotics.

 

[Sybil Vane]

Thanks, Pipmom! I'm facing abscess and fistula surgery and appreciate the tip.

 

[Sybil Vane]

I just took a look online and it looks pretty expensive. May I ask where you bought it?

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

I packed my abscess wound with aquacel. You have to be careful with it though, it encourages growth/repair which is good. But you shouldn't use it if you don't need it. I used mine for too long - the nurses didn't tell me to stop and as I wasn't poking it into the hole enough it caused overgranulation. This is where too much flesh grows above the skin level.
I was told this was because the aquacel is very active.
I think they fixed this at my recent surgey but it not nice for it to happen, they told me this overgranulation would always weep a bit.
Just a warning!

 

[annawato]

I've been having aquacel impregnated with silver (aquacel ag) for the wound i have from surgery. Its been doing a great job.